The World Cannabis March in Paris

On May 29 in Paris, the World March for Cannabis took place and on May 22 in Grenoble, demonstrators demand the decriminalization of cannabis.

The first march took place in 2001 at the initiative of the CAHO-MMC (Ad’Hoc Committee for the Organization of the World Cannabis March) bringing together several legal entities such as political organizations (The Greens, the LCR (which has since become NPA ), the MJS and the JRGs), associations (CAM-RD, Act Up Paris, AIDES, ASUD, etc.) and even economic or cultural actors (the Éditions du Lézard, L’Esprit rappeur, Chanvre et Cie, Natural Mystic).

The World March for Cannabis, or World March for Cannabis, is an international event taking place annually since 1999, in over 700 cities and 65 nations. It usually takes place on the first Saturday in May.

At 2:00 p.m. several hundred people demonstrated on Saturday May 29 in Paris to demand the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis, defending therapeutic or « recreational » use.

Gathered for the World March of Cannabis, the rather young demonstrators, some wearing t-shirts and caps with cannabis leaf prints or clothing in the colors of Jamaica, rallied the Place de la République from Bastille, in scrolls of hashish.

Banned since 1970

In France, the consumption of cannabis has been prohibited since 1970, punishable by one year in prison and a fine of 3,750 euros. In practice, while imprisonment for use is exceptional, fines persist.

Suffering from a disease of the nervous system and AIDS, Béatrice, 52, says that she was in a wheelchair 20 years ago. « But since I have been smoking cannabis, I have been better: I walk again, it increases the effects of the triple therapy, and it helps me to eat. »

Forty activists who plead for the legalization of this drug gathered on Saturday noon on the Place de la République, to participate in the « Cannaparade ». A march which, in several forms, has been held for twenty years in Paris.

About thirty officials flanked the procession as far as Bastille. Commissioner Julien Herbaut, who was responsible for reminding the law. “The right to demonstrate is guaranteed, but the use, possession and sale of narcotics remains an offense,” he explains. The police are responsible for carrying out checks ”. Officials who catch smokers in the act will have to issue them a fine of 250 euros which can be increased to 450 euros.

« This is a device that the local security department of the Paris area has very well appropriated because since the beginning of the year we have already drawn up 6,135 minutes, adds the commissioner ».

Béatrice, 52, suffering from a disease of the nervous system and AIDS, says that she was in a wheelchair 20 years ago. « But since I have been smoking cannabis, I have been better: I walk again, it increases the effects of the triple therapy, and it helps me to eat. »

She has been consuming one gram of cannabis for the past fifteen years. Encouraged by her doctor, Béatrice cultivates her plants in her garden. « I try to be discreet. » « It’s proven, consumption plummets, violence plummets if it’s legalized, » she says. According to her, thousands of jobs would be created with the end of « this repressive 70’s law ».

« Me, cannabis has always been part of my life, » explains this young woman who comes from Poissy (Yvelines). I would like to be able to buy them in stores with complete freedom and for the products to be better controlled « .

According to the environmental senator Esther Benbassa, at the origin of the bill rejected in April aiming to authorize the use and the sale controlled by the State while prohibiting the advertising and the sale to minors, the reluctance is linked to  » morality ».

“There is still the idea that the cannabis smoker is on the wrong track. If he consumes every day, it’s addiction, you need support, but it’s like alcohol, ”she says, calling for“ legislation on a public health problem ”.

Lyon chooses to relocate its event to Grenoble

The CIRC de Lyon chooses to relocate its event to Grenoble. An ecological city, rather young, whose mayor wants to make his city a laboratory for the decriminalization of cannabis. “In Lyon, we were tired of parade empty. In 2019, we were barely thirty, regrets IARC spokesperson Jérôme Expeusto.

« 33 American states which authorize therapeutic cannabis as well as Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina and Peru. In the European Union 21 countries out of 27 authorize, at different levels, cannabis for therapeutic use. In Israel cultivation of medical cannabis has been legal since 2012, farms in Australia have been cultivating it legally since 2017. « 

« Canada legalized in 2018, Uruguay in 2014, several states in the USA since 2012. And with the arrival of the new tenant at the White House, everything will accelerate. Prohibition is certainly living its last hours because the lock federal government was abolished last January. Nothing is now opposed to the gradual establishment of a new regime on cannabis. It is in this context that will take place in all the largest cities in the world the World March of Cannabis 2021 to demand once again the release of cannabis prisoners, the legalization of therapeutic and recreational cannabis, and self-production and more generally a real public health policy promoting the reduction of risks vis-à-vis towards all drugs, and for responsible consumption. « 

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