French CBD shops forced to close amid legal ambiguity
Cannabidiol (CBD) shops in France are being forced to close their doors just months after opening, after reports that they are being threatened with legal action due to the still-ambiguous legality of the product.
Shops selling cannabidiol (CBD) products have opened across the country in recent months - including Paris stores E-Klop and Cofyshop - and usually stock items such as CBD crystals, syrup, sweets, oils, balms and ground herb.
They do not position themselves as health shops, pharmacies, or 鈥渄ealers鈥�.
CBD is technically legal, as it contains a maximum of 0.2% of THC, the psychoactive element present in stronger cannabis variations. This means it does not make its users 鈥渉igh鈥�.
Yet, many shops that have opened this year - in a bid to capitalise on the growing popularity of CBD - have to close.
The owners running the shops has become too risky, with local prosecutors reportedly questioning the stores鈥� legality, and debating whether the operations in fact constitute 鈥渋llegal pharmacy鈥� work.
The issue is especially fraught in the Nord, shop owners .
Stores closed recently include Bestown Shop, which opened in May in Ann艙ullin and B茅thune; Kanaleg in Calais; and Best CBD and 1001 Vertues, both in Douai.
All have now ceased trading and closed their doors. The Cambrai branch of 1001 Vertues may also close in early 2019, its owner .
A co-manager of now-closed store Kanaleg : 鈥淲hat made me close? It was a letter from the ministry of Justice saying that they would be investigating and prosecuting, notably for 鈥榩ractising illegal pharmacy work鈥�.鈥�
The owner of another now-closed shop, Greenbeux in Lille, was investigated recently. He even spent time in police custody.
The legal status of CBD remains ambiguous and in flux.
In mid-June this year, a government statement that 鈥渢he commerce of all cannabis flowers is prohibited in France鈥�, but in November, Minister for Health Agn猫s Buzyn said that selling CBD products for public consumptions was authorised.
Mickael Tabeling, a CBD shop owner in Dunkirk, disagrees that these shops are breaking the law, and is resisting pressure to close his own premises. He maintains that his products are 100% legal.
He : 鈥淲e are feeling pressure at the moment; we were visited [by officials]. But I have taken on a specialist legal advisor on this.鈥�
Mr Tabeling now plans to open further sites in Bergues, Hazebrouck and B茅thune.
