What are the current rules on small personal amounts, asking for a friend.
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Surprisingly severe, haven’t researched this in any depth but despite often smelling it on the street when I venture out of our village (where pastis remains the intoxicant of choice), France has some of the strictest laws in Europe.
200 euro fine for possession - on the spot fine now rather than arrest. Changed in 2020.
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Our neighbour smokes it a lot so that made me wonder.
I don’t know the current rules, but tell your friend not to bring a stash over; it’s very easily found here.
A good friend in the Gendarmerie, told me that they’re not bothered with personal use unless driving under the influence (be careful as if tested positive for alcohol, they test for other substances, & these can take days to get out of the system) or supplying.
Just read this, whatever next - Pope on dope?
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Thank you its helpful and as above a spot fine is the case.
I had a problem with some of the local young bad lads (méchants), who built a maison sauvage out the remnants of an old hunting dog kennels and scrounged corrugated iron on the edge of my land in a scrubby bit of woodland. The distinctive smell of hash was wafting up over my patio and I was concerned in case it might be thought that I or any family that happened to be staying with me, might be suspected of indulging. I had a quiet word with the mayor, who arranged for the removal of the shack and I understand a sergeant came up from the nearest station and had a serious discussion with the individuals concerned (it is always the same group of 15 to 19 year olds. However they just moved the centre of their activities to the local sports pavilion. A couple of times when the bongos were still going at 1AM, I went over and explained that if they did not shut up, a visit from the Gendarmerie, who would see and smell all the megots of the cannabis cigarettes on the ground and would take it out on the lads for having been rousted out to deal with this in the middle of the night. We occasionally get rusty hippy vans parking at the edge of the sports pitches and if one drives past at night with the windows down, there is a certain whiff but otherwise they have to date been quiet and well behaved .
Gosh you are a brave man for confronting them. Imagine doing that in the UK these days you would get set upon as the police would not get involved. Thats the one thing with living in small communes here, everyone knows who everyone else is and who their parents are.
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The rules are below, whether you are in possession of small or large quantities is irrelevant to its legallity.
If you are stopped whilst driving and undergo a saliva test, you will likely to test positive 72 hours after consumption.
Pursuant to Article R. 5132-86 of the French Public Health Code (PHC), the culture, manufacture, transport, import, export, holding, offer, transfer, acquisition and use of cannabis (plant and resin) and THC (natural and synthetic and derived products) are prohibited.
Manufacturing, marketing, brokering or distributing free of charge or against payment, wholesale or retail, a cannabis product without having obtained the authorization is punishable by five years’ imprisonment and a fine of EUR 375,000 in application of Article L. 5421-6-3 PHC.
Penalties for consumption have been amended with the introduction of the fixed fine. Since 2020, anyone caught in possession of cannabis can be given an immediate fine of 200 euros. In 2025, more than 150,000 fines of this type were issued, illustrating the public authorities’ desire to combat consumption.
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Thank you, I think we know the legality now, the fixed fine shows its not that bigger deal but is a good revenue raiser by your stats. Its for an 83 year old friend who uses it for theraputic reasons post brain trauma. They have actually given lectures on its medical use and just asked me for the legal stand point so thank you everyone for your help.