As MP Caroline Janvier prepares to submit her report on recreational cannabis, the LREM politician could well see President Emmanuel Macron carrying the initiative for its legalization in May 2022. Coincidence of timing? Yesterday, Sunday, the head of state called for“a major national debate on drug use“. Are the days of pot prohibition numbered?
After MPs François-Michel Lambert (Liberté Ecologie Fraternité), Jean-Baptiste Moreau (LREM) and Senator Robin Reda (LR), it’s the turn of Caroline Janvier (LREM) to invite the issue of legalization to the negotiating table. The Loiret MP, rapporteur for the parliamentary information mission on cannabis use and initiator of the citizen consultation on cannabis, has already reserved a place for President Emmanuel Macron, whom she“would like to see carry the project ” (of legalization, editor’s note).
The untenable prohibition
It has to be said that France’s position is becoming increasingly untenable for the executive: in the face of the success of countries that have legalized (Canada, Uruguay and 16 American states) or decriminalized (Spain, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium), France is on the sidelines, dragging its feet. Which is a bit rich considering that France is Europe’s biggest cannabis consumer, with 5 million regular users. What’s more, it has all the natural assets to champion the production of wellness hemp and cannabis, production which is currently confined to textiles.
Legalization already on the agenda of several presidential candidates
Politically, this is a matter of urgency for the tenant of the Elysée: all the center and left-wing parties, from EELV to PS via Modem and France Insoumise, have announced their willingness to include legalization in their program for next year’s presidential election.
Very discreet until now on the question of possible legalization, the President has for the first time opened the door to the idea of legalization. It’s a clever way of putting himself forward and avoiding having the rug pulled out from under him.
Another curious coincidence: tomorrow is April 20th, also known as 4/20.
While voters’ votes remain predictable, the ways of ganja are impenetrable…
