French Lawmaker Deputy François-Michel Lambert caused quite a stir in the French Parliament this week. He brought a joint with him to show his fellow lawmakers. It wasn’t meant to be shocking, it wasn’t meant to be harmful. It was just a joint in response to the failed prohibition effort enacted in France for years. “Other countries have chosen to face the problem rather than the ostrich policy” of France, Deputy Lambert said.
Almost instantly, Richard Ferrand, the president of the National assembly, censored Lambert. He even went on to call Lambert a “little demagoguery.” A demagoguery is a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and fake claims and promises in order to gain popularity. A point of order was raised against
Additionally, French President Emmanuel Macron has been against legalization and anyone who has attempted to change this. Saying cannabis is safe “is no more than a lie,” the President has said time and time again. “Cognitively, the effects [of cannabis] are disastrous. How many young people, because they start smoking in college, completely drop out of the school system and ruin their chances?” President Macron asked. “And I’m not even talking about the effects of sliding to harder drugs.”
Changing Viewpoints
Deputy Lambert’s stunt came one day before a parliament group released a report on their stance for cannabis legalization. This report stated, “Regulated legalization is the best way to regain control and protect the French.”
The report goes on to say:
“The state helplessly assists the trivialization of cannabis among young people and the deterioration of security despite a repressive French policy that is costly and excessively mobilizes the police…We are proposing a real risk reduction policy and stopping waging war on the user in order to really reorient the police towards the fight against trafficking.”
This is the exact opposite of what President Macron proclaims.
Future Reform
Any cannabis reform that the French people want will have to be fueled by them. President Macron, instead of looking into using cannabis as a helpful medicine and tool like other countries are starting to do, he is focusing more on halting drugs where they stand, not letting it closer to the French people.
“Eradicating [drugs] by all means has become the mother of battles, since drugs innervate certain separatist networks but also everyday delinquency, including in small towns so far spared. Leaving no respite for drug traffickers is to reduce delinquency everywhere.”
It does not appear that reform is coming any time soon to France. But it’s lawmakers like Deputy Lambert who will keep pushing for change and keeping it at the forefront of the public’s mind.
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