Paris is the city of love, overpriced coffee and waiters who can make you regret your French with a single look. Freedom seems to be everywhere. Until you mention weed. While Amsterdam has its coffeeshops, Paris has a rather different approach. Cannabis remains illegal, and getting caught using it can land you a €500 fine. Pay promptly and that drops to €400. That's one expensive joint, and you haven't even bought the weed.
Of course, that doesn't mean cannabis has disappeared from Paris. France's drug monitoring agency, OFDT, has been keeping an eye on the streets for years. Its research into Paris and the surrounding region describes how drug dealing has increasingly moved onto apps and delivery services. Dealers no longer need to stand on a street corner to find customers. Sometimes a message is all it takes to make contact. The research covers the wider drugs market, not just cannabis.
France, meanwhile, is sticking to its tough stance. Even a small amount for personal use can get you into trouble. And while other countries are cautiously exploring regulated sales, there's still nowhere in Paris to legally buy recreational weed. You've got the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Seine. For a Dutch-style coffeeshop, though, you'll need to travel quite a bit further.
