French Cannabis Law: Numbers far from the stereotypes...

In France The debate about cannabis often goes in circles.With repressive rhetoric, a series of fixed fines, repeated anti-drug operations… And unfortunately, at Kilogrammes, we have been observing this for years.

But the new statistics from the Ministerial Statistical Service for Internal Security (SSMSI) could prove groundbreaking. For the first time since 2016, a study has clearly distinguished between products, uses, and profiles.

And the result shows An avalanche of numbers shaking our certainties, exposes the limits of the current system, and reignites the discussion about the role of legal or better-regulated cannabis, whether as a THC alternative or the development of transparent actors, such as those in the market for CBD flowers.

290,000 arrests and low effectiveness…

Among the figures presented by the SSMSI, one stands out in particular… In 2024 290,400 people were involved in drug use. Furthermore, 52,300 were arrested for drug trafficking.

Since 2016, the numbers have steadily increased, but the most significant acceleration occurred in 2020 with the introduction of fixed penalty notices for minor offenses. Today 68% of interventions go through this AFD procedure.Either 196,400 citationsand 95% are related to cannabis..

Behind this avalanche, at Kilogrammes, we have made a simple observation. Today, the fact is that The approach primarily targets users.But not the networks. And as you can see, it mainly targets a single product…

Cannabis: overwhelming dominance in court cases

On closer inspection, the SSMSI confirms what everyone in this field already knew, 92% of those involved in use are related to cannabis 78% of those involved in drug trafficking are also, and in more than three out of four cases, it is resin.

This dominance is due to the historical structure of the French market. Besides cannabis, some other products like cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and MDMA shape the rest of the market. Together, they make up almost the entire remaining drug trade.

A power increase that varies depending on the drugs used.

If cannabis trafficking has only increased by 35% since 2016.Other substances have literally exploded.

Cocaine trafficking rose by 176% and consumption by 100%, ecstasy consumption by 118% and 87%, and heroin consumption by 12% and 34%. Regarding consumption, only heroin use decreased, while cannabis use increased by 74%.

While law enforcement focuses their energy on joints and hashish, drugs that pose the greatest health and criminal risks are experiencing a rapid rise…

Very young profiles for cannabis

The report also highlights a figure rarely quantified with such precision. And yes, cannabis use and trafficking mainly affect young people..

According to SSMSI, the average age for drug trafficking is 21 years and for consumption 24 years. Even more worrying is that 22% of those involved in drug trafficking are minors and 79% are under 30 years old. Synthetic drugs follow a similar pattern and are often consumed multiple times.

In contrast, cocaine and heroin affect a significantly older audience.

Foreigners, regional differences, and a very pronounced geography…

Foreign nationals, 8% of the French population, represent 22% of trafficking and 12% of use. The phenomenon reached huge proportions with crack cocaine, 47% of traffickingand 41% of use, mainly concentrated in Paris.

For cannabis, the share is also increasing, rising from 11% to 21% in eight years.

We can also see another reality, as France is not homogeneous. In some departments (Guadeloupe, Nord, Réunion, Ardennes)grass dominates. Areas with the highest concentration of cultivated plants show a completely different profile, older and more female.

A criminal policy that has passed its peak

The numbers speak clearly: France mobilizes massive police and judicial resources in the fight against cannabis.Meanwhile, the consumption of the most socially dangerous drugs is exploding. And unfortunately, it appears that the AFD (French Anti-Drug Agency) has not been able to curb consumption; drug trafficking continues to increase, and repressive measures remain ineffective.

For many actors in this sector, this study opens a window of opportunity: Rethink the strategy, reduce police pressure on simple use and consider more rational control models Countries that have structured a legal, regulated, and transparent market, such as with CBD hashish and resins, show that there is another way.

We, for our part, believe that the debate is far from over.One thing is certain: given such numbers, the current law is unlikely to last much longer…