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Marketing CBD flowers officially legal in France
Cannabis legalization
16.10.24
Among our dear French friends, the question of the legality of CBD flowers continues to be debated, both in public opinion and in law. After years of incessant back-and-forth between the European Union and France, the Conseil d'Etat recently annulled the government order banning the sale of CBD flowers. What was the origin of this ban, and why did the legal authorities decide to remove it? We tell you all about it.
What is CBD and how is it different from cannabis?
First of all, it's important to understand exactly what CBD is. CBD stands for cannabidiol, one of the many compounds found in hemp. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol has no psychotropic effects and is not used recreationally. As a result, the recurring confusion between cannabis and CBD is irrelevant.
What is CBD flower?
CBD flower is the simplest form of cannabidiol. It is simply the flowers extracted from the hemp plant, without any processing. They contain varying levels of CBD.
Other types of CBD products include oils, capsules and topical creams. These products are made by extracting the CBD compound from hemp plants.
Why has France banned the sale of CBD flowers?
The French government has long argued that it was necessary to ban the sale of CBD flowers, for several reasons.
The first of these reasons is the difficulty of controlling the THC content of a cannabis flower. Unlike processed CBD products, whose manufacturing process is regulated, CBD flowers can easily be mistaken for cannabis flowers. The complexity of this verification has long justified the ban. However, the sale of CBD flowers in sealed containers quickly presented itself as a solution to this problem.
The second reason given is consumer protection. Studies showing that CBD has no harmful effects on health would be too few to justify its legalization. A view not shared by most Western countries.
The final reason given is the way CBD flowers are consumed. Although they are often consumed vaporized, some users mix them with tobacco. In this way, CBD flowers run counter to the anti-smoking policy that has been in place for decades in France.
The end of a long legal battle
Buoyed by the worldwide emergence of CBD as a new "natural well-being" sector, a number of stores have opened in France in recent years.
The debate has been raging ever since.
Indeed, it is the psychotropic properties of cannabis that have made it a narcotic in the eyes of the law since the regulations of August 22, 1990. These psychotropic properties are linked to THC, which is virtually absent from CBD plants.
However, as soon as they opened, the first stores were the target of numerous searches, provoking indignation among retailers and consumers alike. But as of November 2020, these police interventions ceased following a decision by the European Court of Justice. The Court ruled that there was no justification for CBD to be considered a narcotic product. The Court of Cassation made this ruling final in June 2021.
Despite this ruling, France issued a decree in December 2021 authorizing the use of CBD products, but prohibiting the sale, possession and consumption of CBD flowers. This decree was directly challenged by the Conseil d'Etat in January 2022, contesting the legality of this measure.
On December 29, 2022, the Conseil D'Etat revoked the ban on the sale and use of CBD flowers, making them officially and definitively legal. A great relief for consumers on the one hand, but also for the many growers and merchants whose business was in jeopardy.
How can I be sure I'm buying legal CBD in France?
As you can see, from 2023 onwards, if you live in France, you can legally buy or sell CBD, provided, of course, that it complies with regulations. These are particularly strict: unlike Switzerland, which allows THC levels below 1%, the French limit is set at 0.3%.
So how can you be sure you're buying the right product? In the event of an inspection, if the CBD you have in your possession does not comply with the law, you're in trouble. So it's vital to be sure that the CBD you buy complies with your country's regulations. This is the case with Naturalpes. Although produced in Switzerland, our CBD flowers for shipment to France strictly respect the THC content of 0.3%.
French CBD enthusiasts can take comfort in the fact that, now that this never-ending legal battle is over, they can rest assured that they will be able to consume their CBD flowers legally. Retailers can also rejoice: this ever-expanding market has a bright future ahead of it. Moreover, legalization will lift the stigma attached to this substance and encourage research into its benefits. So many reasons to welcome the end of the ban on the sale of CBD flowers in France.
Written by Naturalpes
