“It will not solve our drug trafficking problem in France,” says Grégory Joron, general secretary of a police union.

Cannabis consumption was legalized in Germany on Monday April 1st. In France, the government is conversely increasing its operations as “XXL net market” in order to put an end to drug trafficking. Should France follow the German example? “No, I do not think so”assures Grégory Joron, general secretary of the SGP Police-FO Unit union. “We fight against drugs every day” of all types, he says. According to him, drug trafficking has evolved in recent years. Deal points now offer more than just “cannabis resin” and sell many “synthetic drugs”.

3.5 billion euros in benefits to the underground economy

Grégory Joron takes the legalization of cannabis in 2016 in the state of California, in the United States, as an example. If France were to do the same, “we will therefore have to legalize and then compete with an already extremely established illegal market”, underlines the secretary general. According to him, drug trafficking generates 3.5 billion euros in profits for the underground economy in France. “I believe that legalization is not the alpha and omega of everything. And above all, I believe that it will not solve our drug trafficking problem in France”he concludes.