French Mayor Proposes Cannabis Legalization Referendum
A mayor in France is calling for adults in his country to be able to vote on cannabis legalization. Éric Piolle, the current mayor of Grenoble, issued a public proposal to French President Emmanuel Macron to initiate a national referendum vote on recreational cannabis legalization.
“I propose the President of the Republic take the initiative to hold a referendum [on the legalization of cannabis]; it will allow us to approach the subject with seriousness, rather than getting muddled up all the time.” stated Mayor Piolle according to local reporting by The Pinnacle Gazette (translated from French to English).
“Piolle’s stance is shaped by the rising number of individuals incarcerated for drug-related offenses, counter to the persistent high levels of drug trafficking.” the outlet also stated in its coverage.
Three European nations have already adopted national adult-use cannabis legalization measures. Malta was the first to do so in 2021, followed by Luxembourg in 2023 and Germany in 2024. Additionally, Uruguay, Canada, and South Africa have adopted national recreational cannabis legalization measures.
According to the European Union Drugs Agency, France has the highest rate of cannabis consumption on the European continent. Mayor Piolle is not the only lawmaker in France demanding legalization. An escalation of violence linked to organized crime in France led to recent calls by a parliamentary group for the European nation to legalize cannabis for adult use. La France Insoumise (LFI) has criticized the government’s current approach to cannabis policy.
“According to the unveiled “fight plan,” the government’s repressive response is not only insufficient, but it fuels insecurity, pushing citizens and officials into a cycle of violence.” stated Newsweed in its local reporting. “LFI advocates for a comprehensive, community-based approach to combating organized crime in France, including the legalization of cannabis.”
A previous study by an economic advisory board within the nation’s prime minister’s office determined that the French government spends roughly €570m annually on cannabis prohibition enforcement. The study recommended that France adopt adult-use cannabis legalization and launch a regulated recreational industry.
Emmanuelle Auriol, a professor at the Toulouse School of Economics who authored the study’s report and findings, estimated that such a policy change could create as many as 80,000 new jobs, and generate €2.8bn in taxes annually.
According to a recent newsletter sent out by international cannabis economist Beau Whitney of Whitney Economics, France is home to the largest total addressable cannabis market in the European Union with a value of $11.3 billion (midpoint).
