Will the New Popular Front Legalise Cannabis?
Following the dissolution of the National Assembly, the various left-wing parties quickly came together to form the New Popular Front. The legalisation of cannabis is not part of their program. However, the three main parties of the NFP spoke out in favour of legalisation before the European elections.
In 2022, the legalisation of cannabis was part of the program of the NUPES (New Ecological and Social Popular Union) which brought together the same parties. In 2024, the United Left returns with a new program but the legalisation of cannabis is not mentioned.
Who is Part of the New Popular Front?
The Socialist Party (PS), France Insoumise (LFI), the Ecologists, the Communist Party (PC) and the Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) are part of the New Popular Front.
After its significant score in the European elections, the National Rally has never been so close to power. The danger is genuine. The New Popular Front does not want to scare voters with a controversial measure.
The Macron government has been very repressive, but if the RN wins, the situation could get even worse for cannabis consumers and growers. The terrible Eric Ciotti, president of the Republicans who have just joined the RN, could obtain the position of Minister of the Interior.
Eric Ciotti hates cannabis consumers and should be even more severe than the current Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin. Eric Ciotti has already proposed increasing the fixed fine for drug use to 1,000 euros instead of 200 (reduced to 150 if paid within 2 weeks). He would also like to practice "name & shame" by posting the names of cannabis consumers arrested on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
The New Popular Front's program is divided into two parts: "First 15 days" for urgent measures and "First 100 days". The measures mainly concern purchasing power, the right to housing, public services and the climate. In the first 15 days, the NFP wanted to calm the country. Among the interesting measures:
"Deploy the first community police teams, ban LBDs and mutilating grenades, and dismantle the BRAV-M.." Legalisation, which could "calm", however not part of the program and the Popular Front even wants to increase the number of personnel in the "units responsible for fighting drug trafficking"
Activists explain that legalisation could come later even if it is not part of the program. The NFP has chosen a consensual program to put all the chances on its side.
In addition, the main parties of the Popular Front have recently spoken out in favour of legalisation. A few days before the European elections, the news site Brut published a video in which the heads of the lists of the main parties answer the following question: "Should the European Union legalise cannabis in all its member states?"
Unsurprisingly, candidates Jordan Bardella (RN), Marion Maréchal-Le Pen (Reconquête) and François-Xavier Bellamy (LR) are opposed to legalisation in France and Europe. The Communist Party candidate for the European elections, Léon Delfontaines, is also against legalisation: "No, it should be the competence of the states and I am personally opposed to it on a French scale."
The three main parties of the NFP are in favour of legalisation. "Cannabis can and must be legalised in all member states," replied Manon Aubry of LFI. "It is not the European Union that will decide, but this legalisation is necessary," declared Raphaël Glucksmann of the PS. "Repression leads nowhere" replied Marie Toussaint (Europe Écologie Les Verts), also in favour of legalisation.
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Liz Filmer
