Is Weed Legal in France?

This page gives general information about the cannabis rules in France. The rules can change, so always check the current local rules. Different rules apply to THC and CBD in France.

Cannabis containing THC is a classified narcotic, and its use is a criminal offence under Article L3421-1 of the French Code de la santé publique. This is based on the 1970 Narcotics Act. The only exceptions are authorised THC-based pharmaceutical products and the state cannabis experiment described below.

CBD products, on the other hand, may be sold if they contain no more than 0.3% THC. The French Council of State (Conseil d'État) confirmed this rule in 2022.

THC cannabis CBD products
Status Prohibited (narcotic) Permitted up to 0.3% THC, under conditions
Rule 1970 Narcotics Act, Art. L3421-1 Decree of 30 December 2021
Sale Not permitted In CBD shops, pharmacies, and online
Penalty for possession Up to 1 year in prison and a €3,750 fine; a first minor offence is usually settled with a fixed fine of €500 No specific penalty if the conditions are met

The 0.3% THC limit came after a long dispute in the courts.

The 1970 law generally banned the possession, cultivation, sale, and consumption of cannabis.

At the end of 2021, a new decree established that CBD products are permitted up to 0.3% THC. At the same time, the decree was meant to ban CBD flower and hemp leaves. In January 2022, however, the French Council of State struck down that ban. The court found that CBD has no narcotic properties and does not create dependence. As a result, CBD flower may be sold as long as it stays within the THC limit.

Possession of cannabis containing THC remains illegal in France, even in small amounts for personal use. This is separate from the CBD rules above. Since 2019, however, first-time cases with a small quantity are usually handled through a simplified fixed fine instead of a full criminal trial. This faster procedure does not change the status: THC cannabis stays illegal. It only changes how a minor case is handled.

This is how it typically works:

  1. Police find a small amount of THC cannabis during a check.
  2. For a first offense, police can issue a fixed fine (amende forfaitaire délictuelle) of €500 on the spot instead of opening a court case. It drops to €400 if paid quickly and rises to €1,000 if paid late.
  3. The fine can be contested. In that case, the matter goes to court.
  4. For larger quantities, repeat offenses, or suspected drug trafficking, the case goes before a criminal court. In that case, up to 1 year in prison and a €3,750 fine can apply.

These amounts changed in August 2026. The "loi RIPOST" (loi n° 2026-798 du 18 août 2026) was definitively adopted on 21 July 2026, reviewed by the Conseil constitutionnel on 14 August 2026, published in the Journal officiel on 19 August 2026 and came into force on 20 August 2026.

What it changed for drug use:

  • The fixed fine rose from €200 to €500 (€400 reduced, €1,000 increased).
  • A court may now order a driving-licence suspension of up to 3 years (new Article L3421-7 of the Code de la santé publique). This suspension cannot be limited to non-professional driving and cannot be suspended.
  • A préfet may also impose an administrative licence suspension of up to 6 months for repeat drug use, even where no driving was involved.

Please read this carefully before you act on it: cannabis and CBD rules change regularly across Europe, and enforcement can vary by region even when the written law does not. This article describes the situation at the time of writing. Before you order products, travel with them, or make any decision based on this information, check the current status yourself through an official source, the national gazette, the relevant ministry, or a licensed local lawyer. Do not rely only on this page or on any other single website. This article is general information. It does not replace professional advice.

CBD flower, CBD oils, hash, and foods containing CBD may be sold if:

  • they contain no more than 0.3% THC, and
  • the hemp comes from an approved EU hemp variety.

Manufacturers may make no health claims, because France regards CBD as a consumer product, not as a medicine.

HHC is prohibited. The French authority ANSM classified HHC, HHCO and HHCP as narcotics by a decision of 12 June 2023, effective 13 June 2023.

On 3 June 2024 the ANSM extended that classification to further semi-synthetic cannabinoids, including H4CBD, H2CBD, HHCPO and THCP.

Production, sale, and possession of all of these are therefore prohibited in France, whatever their THC content.

France ran a state cannabis experiment that ended on 31 December 2024. No new participants have been enrolled since 27 March 2024.

Since then, roughly 700 participants who were already in the scheme have continued under a transitional arrangement. That arrangement was originally due to expire on 31 March 2026 and has been extended. It now runs until three months after the French authority HAS publishes its opinion. This date has not been fixed yet.

The permanent framework is not yet in force. The implementing texts were notified to the European Commission in March 2025, and the reimbursement decree went to the Conseil d'État on 2 July 2026. The HAS opinion is expected in autumn 2026.

This scheme has nothing to do with the rules for CBD or for recreational cannabis.

For France, Canapuff offers only CBD products with a maximum of 0.3% THC. The rules can change, so check the current local rules before you order.

Sources

Trustpilot