Has marijuana become a political football?

Marijuana is an absolute taboo for Olympic athletes – and for guests visiting Paris, it is also a taboo in France (wink, wink).

As with most sporting organizations, cannabis use is a big no-no for athletes, even for medical reasons. The Olympics are no exception. Although WADA guidelines say they can use cannabidiol (CBD), athletes are prohibited from consuming natural or synthetic cannabinoids in the period leading up to a competition. US sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson was banned from the Tokyo Olympics because she tested positive. So marijuana is a big no-no at the Paris Olympics. And it's still illegal in France, so it's a big French no-no for visitors too (well – wink-wink).

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As with most major cities, including London, Delhi, Tokyo, and Rome, just because something is on the books doesn't mean the local population will comply. The illegal black market is a huge multi-billion dollar industry in most of Europe, South America, and Asia. In Canada, marijuana is completely legal, and in the US, there are both legal and illegal markets. If you're traveling abroad with marijuana, it can be quite difficult in the countryside, but in the country you'll usually find it pretty easy. Just be careful and trust people on your gut.

Cannabis use is illegal in France. But like most countries, marijuana continues to be a widely used drug, both for recreational and medicinal purposes. It's not uncommon to catch a whiff of it in trendy maris, at football stadiums, or even on the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. And with gummy bears and vapes, it's seeped into the Paris scene without almost anyone noticing or caring. The country's population is reported to be among the world's biggest cannabis consumers. Cannabis possession has been partially decriminalized in France, with minor offenses potentially subject to fines.

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However, people caught in illegal possession of cannabis, especially those seeking to sell it, still face prison sentences of up to one year.

Technically, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has no problem with athletes legally having a few drinks. But of course, the focus is on performance, so the drinks are only served at the end of the games.

While there is evidence of the original games in ancient Greece, the games we see here actually began in Athens in 1896 and are overseen by the International Olympic Committee.