unlike Germany, France maintains the most repressive regulations in Europe

Germany legalizes recreational cannabis use from Monday. Strasbourg, a border city, will find itself between two pieces of legislation, its mayor is pleading for an experiment, which is not the line supported by the executive.

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In France, 45% of 15-64 year olds have already smoked cannabis, compared to 27% in the European Union as a whole.  Illustrative photo.  (CLEMENS BILAN / MAXPPP)

Après Canada and other European countries, Germany legalizes the recreational use of cannabis on Monday April 1. Why does France notDoesn’t she risk it? The environmentalist mayor of Strasbourg would however like toexperiment. Jeanne Barseghian will find herself on the border between two opposing regulations. LResidents, including French, in Germany can now smoke a joint on a sidewalk,they are adults and do it far from sensitive places like schools. IThey will be able to carry around with 25 grams or grow three plants at home via associations. While‘other caway from the border, in Strasbourg, will continue toapply the most repressive regulationsEurope, according to the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (EESC). To know, 200 euros fixed fine for the first joint, untilto one year in prison and 3,750 eurosfine in the event of a repeat offense or non-clean record, or even five years and 75,000 eurosfine in certain cases. The objective is to fight against trafficking and provide prevention, particularly among young people. The country cited as an example is Canada where after five years two thirds of consumers now obtain their supplies on the legal market, compared to one third initially and where consumption is falling among adolescents.

One million daily consumers in France

In France, the Ministry of the Interior cites the Netherlands as a counter-example, where the mafia has not disappeared, even forcing the Prime Minister to be protected for fear of attacks. What is certain isis that the French repressive system does not work any better. According to the CESE report, France holds the record for drug consumption in Europe: 45% of 15-64 year olds have already smoked a joint, compared to 27% in theset ofEuropean Union. And France has almost a million daily consumers. Finally, never governments have not imagined legalizing this “recreational use” in France. Would legalizing keep a lax sixty-eight flavor? “The Saturday firecracker tastes like dried blood on the sidewalks”thunders the Keeper of the Seals, Éric Dupond-Moretti. For Gérald Darmanin, who manages the “XXL net square” operations, “as long asthere will be users, there will be drugs”.

Carried by theinsistence of many addictologists, the CESE nevertheless calls for supervised experimentation. Among the Macronists, two years ago, a report by MP Caroline Janvier highlighted issues of social justice in particular. “These neighborhoodswe left in the hands of the dealers, she explained, it is their inhabitants who pay the price, not the inhabitants of the nice neighborhoods who have themselves delivered”. Voices on the right are also heard: Arnaud Robinet, Gil Avérous, or even Boris Ravignon. On the left, in recent days, Sandrine Rousseau has spoken, or even Manuel Bompard on Sunday. In Germany, the implementation of the measure on Monday April 1 clearly does not only make people happy. Maybe we shouldn’t waitunanimity on this side of the border to also tryexperience ?


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