It turned out that in 2005 alone, 32 tons of cannabis were grown in France for €160 million (based on €5 per gram). And this despite the fact that the Fifth Republic remains one of the few countries in Western Europe where not only public use but also carrying even a 'non-commercial' quantity of a soft drug is a criminal offense.
The completely transparent border between Belgium and France was already far behind when a group of people in uniform appeared on the highway on the outskirts of the city of Cambrai. Next to them was a temporary road sign saying 'customs'. 'Do you have anything to declare? Please open the trunk...' And a penetrating look into the eyes.
Flying patrols in northern France catch drug couriers. Or rather, everyone who brings drugs, mainly marijuana, from Holland. Not necessarily wholesale dealers, but also 'grass' lovers who went to Amsterdam for the weekend to walk around, smoke 'stuff' and brought a little back with them. From this road, reports regularly come in about the seizure of large consignments of goods (a ton or more) in trucks and refrigerated vans.
In most 'old' EU countries, this can result in an administrative penalty or simply confiscation of the substance. Moreover, this does not necessarily depend on the severity of the law, because the legislation itself is not settled and reflects a painful debate in society. If you ban 'grass', then why not vodka and beer? A dilemma between personal freedom and public health. It gets to the point of absurdity. According to Dutch law, drug trafficking is prohibited. No matter which drugs. But the whole world knows that in any Amsterdam coffee shop you can openly buy five grams of marijuana for a couple of puffs. Not to mention that the image of the characteristic cannabis leaf on T-shirts, mugs, plates, postcards and even ladies' panties is found in souvenir shops of the Dutch capital incomparably more often than the national coat of arms. The Dutch answer is simple: it's tolerance.
In Belgium, the parliament in 2003 passed a law on the legalization of soft drugs, but the interior minister said a firm 'no', and a government act restrains the effect of the law. If you want, take it to court. The practice looks like this: in educational institutions, at discos, and near children's facilities - zero tolerance. For minors - also. In other cases - neither a report nor a fine.
But here is a paradox: France, with its strict anti-drug legislation, ranks first in Europe in drug consumption. The smuggling of cocaine from overseas departments has sharply increased. Antillean boys take risks to earn money from transportation. Minors are in less demand. But traditional marijuana remains the main dish of the French drug menu. Due to strict border controls, it is increasingly grown... on the balconies of Parisian houses. About 11.5% of marijuana smoked in France is locally produced.
The discrepancy in public attitudes toward soft drugs in EU countries hinders a unified policy. Attempts to find a 'golden mean' between prohibition and freedom, between the positions of now 27 EU countries, continue. The examples of Holland and France show that consumption depends little on the severity of prosecution. Otherwise, the Dutch would have long ago smoked themselves into a stupor. 'Hanging gardens' on balconies and home greenhouses with cannabis are found both in Amsterdam and Paris. Marijuana enthusiasts' clubs and some non-governmental organizations that have support in parliaments are waging a powerful campaign for the full legalization of the soft drug. But the opposing arguments are also strong. According to the European Commission, one and a half million EU citizens use cocaine and 12 million use marijuana. Moreover, 3 million do so daily. Annually, 8,000 people die from overdoses.
Back in 2004, the EU Council, which at that time, as if by irony, was presided over by the Netherlands, adopted a drug strategy until 2012. As the press secretary of the European Commissioner for Health, Nina Papadoulaki, told Novye Izvestiya, the EU action plan against drugs provides for a whole range of preventive actions, both at the demand and supply levels. Mainly it is about propaganda, education and material incentives. 'Whatever we do, we must be based on an objective analysis of the situation,' noted Nina Papadoulaki. 'We need to keep in touch with millions of European citizens, mostly young people, who consider drug use a normal form of entertainment and relaxation, and convince them that they harm not only themselves, not only society in Europe, but also the peoples of those countries where drug production is stimulated by European demand.'
Alexander MINEEV.