Is Weed Legal in France?

With so many medical cannabis patients, it’s no surprise that many are curious about the legality of medical cannabis when they travel. When traveling to many destinations domestically, patients will often discover they have options to continue using medical cannabis while they are away from home. 

But what about trips overseas? Cannabis policy reform is a global phenomenon, and some foreign countries have also legalized medical use. As they plan their travels, patients may wonder if a country they will be visiting has legalized medical cannabis. France, for example, is a popular tourist destination that many patients might be considering for an upcoming vacation. But is weed legal in France? Before they book a trip, many patients may want to learn more about the weed laws in France.

Is Medical Marijuana Legal in France?

Many patients in the United States have learned that some states participate in reciprocity programs. Under these programs, patients from one state can use their medical cannabis card in another state while they are visiting.

But what about those headed abroad? Patients headed to Europe for vacation are likely to wonder if weed is legal in Paris and other areas of the country or if visitors from other countries are allowed to use medical cannabis in France. Unfortunately, the answer is “no.” Not yet, anyway.

Although France has a limited medical cannabis pilot program in effect, the government has not yet adopted comprehensive medical cannabis legalization. The only prescription medicinal cannabis formulations approved for general use are those that hold marketing authorization from French or European health authorities, such as Sativex, Epidyolex, and Marinol.

France’s medical cannabis pilot program, which launched in March 2021, allows a limited number of registered patients to use cannabis under strictly controlled conditions. Medical weed in France is available as an oral cannabis oil or in dried flower form for use in a vaporizer only. Patients are not permitted to smoke cannabis flower. 

The medical cannabis pilot program is limited to five therapeutic uses, including to treat neuropathic pain that is unresponsive to other treatments. Cannabis can also be used to treat epilepsy that does not respond to other treatments and painful spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or other central nervous system disorders. Additionally, patients can be authorized to use medical cannabis under the pilot program for supportive care in oncology, including the management of nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, and palliative care.

Unfortunately, France’s medical cannabis pilot program was initially scheduled to end in March 2024. However, the end date was extended to December 2024. Only patients already enrolled in the program can participate, and new patients are not being accepted.

In January 2024, the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) announced that medical cannabis would be made more widely available to patients under a temporary use authorization. The plan was originally supposed to be implemented by 2025, but delays in making required notifications to the European Commission extended the timeline, likely until 2026.

However, the dissolution of the French General Assembly by President Emmanuel Macron in June 2024 stalled the program over concerns the new government would not continue it. The toppling of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government less than six months later added to the uncertainty, leaving France without a clear timeline for the widespread legalization of medical cannabis.

Is Weed Legal in France for Recreational Use?

France has one of the highest rates of cannabis use in the European Union, so don’t be surprised if you smell pot in Paris while walking the city’s streets. The prevalence of cannabis, however, does not mean that recreational weed is legal in the country.

Like many U.S. states, recreational cannabis is still illegal in France. Until recently, possession and consumption of cannabis were prosecuted under French laws, with penalties for convictions including up to a year in prison and a fine of up to €3,750. However, more modest fines are the usual penalty for possession of small quantities of cannabis. 

In 2020, President Emmanuel Macron announced that a standard fine would replace harsher penalties for cannabis possession or use. Under the new system, adults found with up to 100 grams of cannabis are levied a fine of €200. The fine can be reduced to €150 if paid within 15 days and increases to €450 after 45 days. These fines apply to all adults, including visitors from other countries.

While the new fines represent an easing of cannabis prohibition policies in France, broader reforms are not expected soon. In 2019, a bill to regulate the production, sale, and consumption of recreational cannabis was introduced in the National Assembly, but the measure failed to gain the support needed to pass. President Macron is opposed to ending the prohibition of recreational cannabis, making legalization before the end of his term in 2027 unlikely.

Is CBD Legal in France?

While France’s weed laws are still fairly conservative, the country is one of Europe’s leading producers of industrial hemp. Under European Union law, hemp products with up to 0.2% THC are legal, including cannabidiol (CBD) formulations. 

In 2021, France’s highest appeals court overturned a ruling prohibiting stores from selling CBD products. Citing laws guaranteeing the free trade of goods within the European Union, the court ruled that the sale of CBD could not be prohibited if the products were produced in an EU member nation.

In 2022, France increased the THC limit on hemp products to 0.3%, a level in line with the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp in the U.S. The same year, France’s highest administrative court overturned a ban on CBD flowers and leaves, making more products available for use in the country. As a result, CBD shops offering various products, including flower, vapes, and tinctures, are a common site in Paris and other cities in France.

Where Can I Buy Cannabis in France?

Medical cannabis patients and others are free to visit CBD shops in France, where they will likely find a wide variety of low-THC cannabis products. Unlike many U.S. states, however, the weed laws in France do not allow cannabis dispensaries where products with THC levels greater than 0.3% can be purchased. Such products are only available to participants in the country’s medical cannabis pilot program, which is no longer enrolling new patients.

What Types of Products are Available in France?

France’s medical cannabis program allows only two types of products for patients to use. Oral products, including cannabis oils and tablets that contain both CBD and THC, have been approved and are available from authorized suppliers. The program also permits dried cannabis flower for inhalation via vaporization only. Smoking cannabis flower and other products, such as edibles and vape cartridges, are not part of the pilot program protocol.

Can You Grow Cannabis in France?

The weed laws in France are more restrictive than those of medical cannabis states in the U.S., which often allow for limited cultivation by patients. France does not allow personal cannabis cultivation, even by patients. Despite France’s status as a leader in industrial hemp production, the country imports medical cannabis products for patients enrolled in the pilot program. 

Can I Travel with Cannabis to France?

Visitors to France should not take cannabis with them. It is illegal to bring weed into the country, and violations are subject to law enforcement intervention, an unwelcome prospect on any vacation or business trip. Remember that it is also not legal to carry cannabis on most forms of tourist transportation, including trains, airplanes, and cruise ships.

The options for medical cannabis patients who visit France are very limited. While low-THC products will be found at many CBD shops in the country, legal medical cannabis products are only available to patients already enrolled in France’s medical cannabis pilot program.

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.