The French and marijuana

enjoyment of life (Joie de vivre) is a French expression often used in English to express a cheerful joie de vivre, a jubilation of the spirit. It can be a joy in conversation, in food, in anything one could do… a philosophy of life. France is home to fashion, champagne, rosé, l’amour and more. As the fourth largest European country, 65 million citizens enjoy long lunches, six weeks of vacation, home-baked bread and every opportunity to relax.

So how does France, the cultural icon of cool things, feel about marijuana? The French are the largest cannabis users in Europe. Still, like most of its neighbors, it remains illegal, although there are some signs of hope in Germany, Malta and Italy. There are many things at play: EU regulations, taxes, the thought of change and of course the icy pace of some governments.

As part of the EU, countries are limited to having a central currency, open borders, and tax and criminal laws that match those of their neighbors. To move one requires care to move all, and the EU’s bureaucracy is a sluggish sloth.

Virtually all major milestones in the cannabis legalization movement in the United States have been the result of voter initiative. A California act created the country’s first medical marijuana program in 1996, and initiatives are responsible for legalizing adult use in every state where it exists. While some European countries like the UK and the Netherlands allow referendums, the results of these votes are not legally binding; They are merely advice for the legislature.

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This makes the work of European cannabis activists very different. To get a cannabis proposal on the ballot, American activists must first spend significant time and money collecting enough signatures to qualify the measure for the ballot. Then come campaigning and campaigning efforts. In Europe this is not possible. Even if you could get the signatures of 99 percent of the population, there is still no guarantee that anything will change.

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to update guidelines under which police would issue warnings and on-site fines for cannabis use. Although it appears strict, it represents a relaxation of the law, which is currently rarely enforced. Officials welcomed the proposals and said they would cut court time and paperwork for a crime that in many cases police turn a blind eye to.

Photo by Flickr user rhodesj

In January 2023, the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council endorsed the decriminalization of adult-only recreational cannabis.

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French culture drinks heavily, but not excessively. Love, but not inclusivity, and consumption, but not openness.