The term “cannabis” refers to the Cannabis Sativa plant, originating from Asia and belonging to the Cannabaceae family. It has various strains with different levels of THC. Cannabis is the most commonly consumed drug among young people in France, mainly for its relaxing effects.
In France
Joint, weed, ganja, marijuana, hashish… Cannabis consumption is on the rise in France. According to a November 2021 survey by Ifop for High Society, out of 1205 young people aged 15 to 24, 47% had smoked cannabis at least once, totaling more than 3.5 million young individuals in recent years. Interestingly, more young women (50%) have tried cannabis compared to young men (44%). It surpasses other drugs like cocaine, LSD, heroin, or ecstasy (5% of respondents tried them occasionally). Widely used for recreational purposes, cannabis also accompanies some individuals in various aspects of daily life, such as work, school, driving, or even before sexual encounters to relax. However, young people also face its harmful effects, especially in sexual practices: 39% of young women regretted having a sexual encounter while under the influence, compared to 29% among young men, according to Ifop. Additionally, 46% of female consumers (40% of male consumers) have experienced a decrease in libido due to drug use.
CBD: Effects, What Is It, in France, Can You Get Addicted?
Cannabidiol or CBD is gaining popularity in France! Whether in the form of infusion flowers, relaxing drops, or oil, CBD, unlike illegal cannabis, contains very little THC. But does it truly protect against addiction? Let’s explore its effects, composition, and usage.
What is the Cannabis Consumption in France?
Cannabis is by far the most widely used illicit substance in France. According to the latest study by the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction, nearly four out of ten 17-year-olds have tried cannabis at least once (39.1%).
► Cannabis experimentation during middle school starts around the 8th grade, where one in ten students admits to having tried it at least once, mostly boys.
► In high school, cannabis consumption involves a quarter of 10th graders and 42% of 12th graders, with a higher lifetime use among boys (44.0%) than girls (40.9%).
► Among adults, 44.8% of 18-64 year-olds reported having tried cannabis in their lifetime in 2017 (up from 42% in 2014), more among men (52%) than women (7%).
In Europe, cannabis usage levels roughly divide Northern Europe (low consumption) from Western and Southern Europe. France clearly outpaces other European Union members (plus Norway and Turkey) with a significantly higher annual prevalence than most countries. Italy, the Czech Republic, and Spain complete the quartet of countries with the highest cannabis users.
Where Does Legalization Stand?
On November 24, 2021, the new German coalition government announced its intention to legalize cannabis “for adults for consumption in licensed stores.” If implemented, Germany would become the second European country after the Netherlands to allow the regulated sale of cannabis. The goal is to “control quality, prevent the transmission of contaminated substances, and ensure youth protection,” with a review after 4 years. In Germany, medical cannabis was authorized in 2017. In the Netherlands, besides legally buying and smoking cannabis in “coffee shops,” it has also been legal to cultivate it since 2019. In Luxembourg, it should be possible to grow cannabis at home from 2022 and consume it accordingly. Each household will be allowed to cultivate four cannabis plants, as announced by the government in late October 2021. In France, Health Minister Olivier Véran stated on France Bleu on September 3, 2021, that the discussion is open: “What I’m looking at with interest is countries that have gone towards legalization and have results better than France’s in the last ten years,” like Spain, “which allowed not only street purchase but also growing one’s own plants and consuming them.” “There are different approaches being tried,” he noted. “For me, what interests me first is the therapeutic use that can be made of cannabis.”
Cannabis is a classified narcotic product, and its use is prohibited in France, in accordance with the law of December 31, 1970, whose provisions have been integrated into the Penal Code and the Public Health Code. Buying, consuming, possessing, giving, selling, cultivating (at home or outdoors), transporting, or driving after consumption are offenses punishable by sanctions in court, regardless of the quantity. Penalties are doubled when cannabis is sold or given to minors.
What Is Cannabis?
The term “cannabis” refers to the Cannabis Sativa plant, native to Asia and belonging to the Cannabaceae family. There are various strains with different THC levels. Depending on the strain, cannabis has many properties, from its fibers used for paper or ropes to molecules with biological effects, especially psychoactive ones, leading to its classification as a narcotic. In France, only one hemp species, Cannabis Sativa, devoid of the psychoactive THC molecule, is cultivated. It is known as “industrial hemp.”
As for THC-containing strains, despite its prohibition in France, cannabis is smoked mixed with tobacco, in the form of resin, or floral tops (weed). Flowers can also be consumed as tea, and resin can be incorporated into food preparations.
Weed
Weed, also known as “marijuana,” “bud,” “yamba,” consists of floral tips and is characterized by a low THC content, typically ranging from 2 to 6%.
Cannabis Resin
Cannabis resin, or “hashish,” is made from the resinous parts of the plant or from the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, which are sifted, dried, and then compressed into “cakes” or “bars.” It has a higher THC content, ranging from 5 to 40%.
Cannabis Oil
Dark green to black cannabis oil is obtained by macerating the resinous parts of the plant in 90% alcohol and contains a very high THC content (>50%). Marijuana, hashish, and hash oil can be inhaled using various techniques or ingested in various preparations.
AK-47
This is a hybrid cannabis strain with particularly powerful effects. AK-47 has a very high THC content (tetrahydrocannabinol, the active molecule in cannabis responsible for its psychotropic effects). Highly popular in the Netherlands, where its consumption is legal (unlike in France), AK-47 produces physical relaxation and has a particularly effective analgesic (pain-relieving) effect against rheumatism. It is also known to reduce depressive states and stimulate appetite.
What Is Medical Cannabis?
Dronabinol is the medical term used to refer to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in its synthetic form. Marketed under the name Marinol®, dronabinol is recommended for anti-vomiting treatment in patients undergoing chemotherapy. It is also prescribed to stimulate the appetite of AIDS patients. Administered orally, this medication is prescribed in
France only in specific pain management centers when other molecules prove ineffective in relieving patients. The substance is eliminated via the renal route.
Medical Cannabis: In France (2023), for What Diseases?
Medical cannabis is being experimented within France from 2021 to 2024. Which patients can benefit from it? In the case of cancer? In what form? Smoking? In tablets? How to get a prescription?
What Are the Immediate Effects of Cannabis?
Cannabis naturally produces cannabinoids with euphoric and anticonvulsive properties. Cannabinoids are substances that act on the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the immune system, particularly on cannabinoid receptors. They can be of plant origin, like cannabis, of human or animal origin, with an action on fertility, or of synthetic origin, used as psychotropics to relieve chronic pain. The effect of inhaled cannabis is rapid, taking less than 20 minutes, and lasts one to two hours.
Relaxation: The immediate effects of cannabis include a feeling of relaxation, well-being, euphoria, and altered perceptions.
Palpitations, Dry Mouth: Other effects include an increase in heart rate, slowed reflexes, increased appetite, dry mouth, and red eyes, sometimes accompanied by nausea.
Isolation: Cannabis consumption has severe repercussions on health. 50% of 17-year-olds who smoke cannabis reportedly experience social problems.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Cannabis?
Because it is stored in fat, cannabis remains in the body for a long time in trace form, even if it is no longer active. Thus, it takes more than a month to completely eliminate any trace of the substance from the body after a single use. In the long term, psychological dependence, memory and motivation problems, social isolation, and worsening mental disorders with anxiety and delusional episodes can occur.
Cancer: Cannabis burns less than tobacco and produces more carbon monoxide. Smoking a joint is equivalent to smoking between 2.5 and 5 cigarettes in a row. The risk of cancer for a cannabis smoker would be about 20 times higher than for a tobacco smoker (at an equal dose), according to a New Zealand study published in the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ). The “way of smoking” is also a factor: joints are often consumed without a proper filter, and smoked until the end, increasing the amount of inhaled smoke. In the studied group, the risk of lung cancer was multiplied by a factor of 5.7 in individuals who smoked more than one joint daily for ten years, or two joints per day for five years. Dr. Vincent Villiers, an addiction specialist, adds that “according to several studies, including an American study published in the journal Cancer in 2009, regular cannabis consumption would also increase the risk of developing testicular cancer.”
Breathing: Cannabis smoke contains carcinogenic substances like tobacco smoke; therefore, it is toxic to the respiratory system. A cannabis joint makes one inhale 6 to 7 times more tar and carbon monoxide than a cigarette. It also contains twice as much benzene and three times more toluene, toxic agents. The combination of tobacco and cannabis leads to earlier lung cancers than tobacco alone. Respiratory risks are amplified under certain inhalation conditions (water pipes, “pipes”).
Dependence: Over time, regular smokers tend to increase doses to achieve the same effects. However, fatal overdose does not exist with cannabis. Cannabis dependence appears to be more psychological, although mild withdrawal symptoms such as cramps and insomnia have been observed. The risk of psychological dependence on cannabis is lower than for other drugs, but it exists and affects 10 to 15% of regular consumers. Concerns then focus on research, acquisition, and consumption planning.
Reproduction, Pregnancy: Risks of ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and more frequent premature births. A significant decrease in sperm count if use is chronic and excessive. However, cannabis does not render individuals impotent or sterile.
Effects on the Brain
Depending on the absorbed dose and the consumer’s tolerance, cannabis use leads to increased reaction time, difficulty in completing tasks, and motor coordination disorders that can increase risks associated with driving. Cannabis lowers memory, decreases learning abilities, causes concentration difficulties, disinterest, physical and intellectual fatigue. According to numerous studies, cannabis users would have a 41% higher risk of developing psychosis or schizophrenia. The more significant the cannabis consumption, the more certain brain regions would be reduced. Cognitive and psychomotor performance decreases, leading to academic difficulties in adolescents and urinary disorders.
How to Recognize a Cannabis Smoker?
- Red eyes.
- Slowed speech and thought.
- Lack of motivation for daily activities.
- Fatigue.
- Cravings.
How to Quit?
While anxiety related to withdrawal or psychological signs following or causing cannabis addiction can be accompanied by an anxiolytic, there is no pharmacological treatment for cannabis dependence. Individuals should consult their general practitioner, who can refer them to an addiction specialist or psychologist. These professionals can help patients overcome addiction through cognitive or behavioral therapy. Vincent Villiers notes that hypnosis can be a powerful tool when conducted by an addiction-specialized hypnotherapist: “Hypnosis is a very powerful change technique that achieves very good results in cannabis addiction.”
How to Help a Cannabis-Smoking Loved One Quit?
As parents, friends, colleagues, etc., it is not easy to help a loved one who regularly consumes cannabis. Typically, they refuse any assistance.
► Instead of insisting and cutting off communication, the first thing to do is to be attentive, present, and caring. In short, maintain a connection. Meanwhile, the loved one can be helpful by offering support: documentation on the risks of cannabis, useful numbers and addresses, contacts for associations, etc. The goal is to connect the person with services experienced in managing cannabis addiction.
► It is also essential for parents or friends to accept that they cannot solve the problem alone and that it may take time. Asking regular users, where dependence exists, to stop abruptly can be perceived as an entirely inappropriate request. This can create a gap that may, once again, cut off communication.
► When cannabis use is accompanied by significant difficulties (behavioral problems, severe academic issues, etc.), parents should seek help, whether or not they are accompanied by the user in this process. There are reception and counseling centers to provide support and advice in such situations.
► If dialogue seems impossible: In the relationship between parents and adolescents, dialogue can be challenging in general. Adolescents seek to preserve their privacy, while parents tend to be worried and ask many questions. Limits are perceived as constraints, and the stronger the pressure, the more the young person may want to escape it. The important thing is not to deny the problem or pretend not to know. It is also not to get discouraged and think that nothing can be done. On the contrary, it is essential to express concern and share questions, which are entirely legitimate when one is a parent. This helps to maintain or restore dialogue, provoke reflection, and even share a certain complicity, even if it does not immediately lead to quitting cannabis consumption. Finally, it may be important to seek external help by meeting someone who provides information and can engage in a dialogue that is not always easy within the family.