Over 30 senators from the Socialist, Ecologist and Republican groups have called for a referendum on the legalization of cannabis in France. While the country of human rights continues to apply one of the most repressive policies in Europe, it also has the highest number of weed users on the old continent.
The letter, co-signed by 31 senators and published in the French newspaper Le Monde on Wednesday August 17, explores several options for legalizing cannabis, rejecting decriminalization.
In concrete terms, the letter calls for the launch of a wide-ranging consultation (in the form of a referendum) aimed at legalizing adult cannabis consumption in France.
Decriminalisation: ” a cynical and populist option
Among the signatories are socialists Patrick Kanner and David Assouline, senators for Nord and Paris respectively, and Ludovic Mendès, Senator Reconquête for Moselle. The latter spoke on France Inter radio on the day the letter was published.
The open letter states that, according to a recent report by the French National Assembly, “Nearly 18 million of our fellow citizens have used cannabis for recreational purposes“. Although it is banned, 1.5 million French people regularly use cannabis.
The Senators believe that the legalization of cannabis is a social issue that the public authorities must take on board, and that it is up to the Government to respond to the legitimate concerns that might exist among supporters of outright prohibition.
On the subject of decriminalization, the 31 Senators add that the latter“would onlybuy social peace with a certain cynicism “, categorically rejecting this ” demagogic and populist option “.
Protecting the country’s youth
The article compares the legalization of cannabis to existing public policies on tobacco, alcohol and gambling, adding that an end to weed prohibition would give the State the means to act more effectively to better protect citizens, especially young people.
In the long term, the senators believe that the State will be able to generate tax revenues from these contracts, and even claim to be able to boost the economy, particularly in the areas of justice and security forces.
In June 2019, 70 doctors, economists and other professionals published an open letter to the government in L’Obs in favor of legalizing cannabis. A year later, again in L’Obs, some sixty elected representatives from all walks of life spoke out in favor of legalization.
