Paris - French parliamentarians reacted sharply yesterday after a pro-cannabis campaign group sent all 577 deputies in the National Assembly a neatly-rolled joint and a letter demanding the relaxation of France's drugs laws, among the harshest in Europe.
"You will find in this package a small joint, that is to say a hand-rolled cigarette containing a mixture of tobacco and cannabis," the Cannabis Information and Research Collective wrote.
"Nurtured and cosseted by enthusiasts, this cannabis, raised under the sweet skies of France, has been generously donated by growers to give to you."
The deputies would now be in the same position as the many thousands of their fellow citizens who have illegally rolled and shared a joint, the letter continued. National Assembly deputies differed in their reactions to the gifts, although none said they intended to smoke them. Several criticised the CIRC for distributing the joints but said they favoured a debate in parliament on decriminalising marijuana.
About seven million French people have tried marijuana at least once and about two million are regular users, according to official estimates.