Many marijuana lovers in France may have been started to an announcement made this past weekend by the country’s Prime Minister.
Prime Minster Jean Castex announced that police in the country will start hitting users of illicit drugs, particularly cannabis, with on-the-spot fines starting in September.
Spot fines of 200 euros ($233) have been tested in several French cities in recent weeks and will now be applied nationwide, Castex said. This rules out a decriminalisation of cannabis.
According to a law set back in 1970 in France, the country allows for illicit drug use to be punished with up to a year in prison and fined with up to 3,750 euros, but few users actually do jail time.
The new measure would simplify police procedures by “inflicting punishment without delay”, Castex said. He argues that it would be an efficient tool against sale points run by drug dealers “which are eating away at neighbourhoods”.
If paid within two weeks the fine will be reduced to 150 euros, but will rise to 450 euros unless settled within 45 days.
President Emmanuel Macron had pledged during the election that spot fines should be used to deter petty crimes that often end up unpunished in overloaded courts.
