Located at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, Lyon is the capital of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. Vieux (Old) Lyon’s medieval and Renaissance buildings, the Roman Amphitheâtre des Trois Gaules, and the contemporary Confluence neighborhood on the Presqu’île peninsula all represent the city’s 2,000-year history. Vieux Lyon is connected to La Croix-Rousse hill via tramboules, which are covered corridors between buildings.
Weed Laws and Legislation in Lyon
Starting January 2025, weed is still regarded as illegal in Lyon for recreational use. Regarding the use and possession of cannabis, French regulations are strict. They don’t currently have a medicinal cannabis program, which is unusual for an EU nation. Macron’s implementation of the “on the spot fine” for cannabis users, however, suggests a slow change in mindset. France continues to be a significant producer of hemp and cannabis in spite of their stringent regulations.
Is CBD Considered Legal in Lyon?
THC, the chemical that causes the “high,” is not present in sufficient amounts in CBD oil to be psychoactive. The usage and sale of CBD products in France is therefore (technically) approved by the government. According to the Interministerial Mission Against Drugs and Addictive Behavior (MILDECA), it is only allowed in the following situations:
- The goods are manufactured from authorized varieties of (low-THC) hemp
- plants and the THC levels are 0.2% or below.
Can You Posses and Consume Weed in Lyon?
Under French law, cannabis possession and use were punishable by law until recently. The Macron administration declared that fines will be replaced with a lump-sum fee on September 1st, 2020. A €200 fine (€150 if paid within 15 days, €450 if paid after 45 days) is now imposed on any adult discovered in possession of up to 100 g of cannabis.
Can You Sell Weed in Lyon?
France including Lyon has adopted a strict stance on cannabis distributors and sellers, similar to that of many other nations.
Note that the lump-sum fine is meant to combat cannabis trafficking as well as to discourage cannabis ownership and use. But because law only applies to adults, it actually serves to further legitimize the involvement of children in human trafficking.
A fine of €7.5 million and jail terms of up to 10 years are imposed on those who are accused of trafficking. If you sell to children or near schools, you risk having your fine doubled.
Can You Grow Your Own Cannabis in Lyon?
The cultivation of cannabis plants is still prohibited in France, even though the country boasts a flourishing hemp and cannabis producing business. If detected, the criminal faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail and a fine of up to €7 million.
There are no exceptions to this rule under the law. Cannabis cultivation is considered a crime even if the user just uses it for personal, medical needs. In actuality, though, relatively few growers of cannabis have been penalized with the maximum punishment.
Do Many People Smoke Weed in Lyon?
In collaboration with the Santé Publique France agency, the survey was administered to 23,661 adults between the ages of 18 and 64. The results first validate the stabilization of key consumption indicators, showing that 10.6% of the population had used marijuana in the previous year and 47.3% (nearly 18 million French people).
Is Weed legal in Paris for Tourists?
Possession of cannabis carries a maximum penalty of €3,750 in fines and up to one year in jail. For small infractions, the French government has been known to apply other sanctions, such as a €200 fine.
How Much Weed Can You Legally have in Lyon?
No amount of weed. Recreational weed is still considered illegal in Lyon as of May 2025. French law makes it clear that “incitement to use narcotics” is illegal, which, contrary to popular belief, includes marijuana.
Will France Legalize Weed in the Future?
In 2025, France did not legalize cannabis for recreational use, despite the arguments. Discussions on a potential decriminalization or restricted legalization, however, are still ongoing.
What to Know Before Visiting Lyon
The following information is helpful whether you are visiting France or already live there:
- In Lyon, cannabis is frequently smoked in spite of the stringent regulations. In fact, a recent research found that the nation has the sixth-highest number of smokers.
- In the nation, 21.5% of young adults (15–34 years old) use cannabis.
Cannabis that has been confiscated varies widely in strength. - It ranges from 0 to 28% for herbal cannabis and from 0 to 70% for resin (hash). This is really powerful! Such a high potency is quite uncommon, and this was probably some sort of distillate.