France
Is Hemp Legal in France?
Status
Legal
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
September 24, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp is legal to cultivate, process and sell in France provided the plant variety is registered in the EU Common Catalogue and the standing crop contains no more than 0.3% Delta-9-THC. The 0.3% threshold was set by the Arrete du 30 decembre 2021 (JORF of 31 December 2021), in force since 1 January 2022, and matches the 0.3% ceiling in EU Regulation 2021/2115 (CAP).
Following the Conseil d'Etat ruling of 29 December 2022 (n.444887), the blanket ban on the sale of raw hemp flowers and leaves was annulled: CBD flower and leaves below 0.3% THC may be lawfully sold to consumers. Synthetic and semi-synthetic neo-cannabinoids - HHC, HHCO, HHCP, HHCPO, H4-CBD, H2-CBD, THCP, THCA - were classified as stupefiants by ANSM (arretes of 12 June 2023 and 3 June 2024), with a further arrete of 16 January 2026 extending the list to additional derivatives.
Hemp seed, fibre, hurds, oil and CBD extracts meeting the 0.3% THC ceiling remain freely commercialised; novel food rules apply to ingestible CBD per EU Regulation 2015/2283.
Key facts ·
France
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0.3% Delta-9-THC (Arrete du 30 decembre 2021, in force 1 January 2022)
Regulator
Ministere de la Sante / ANSM / ANSES / DGCCRF
Key regulation
Arrete du 30 decembre 2021 portant application de l'article R. 5132-86 du code de la sante publique (in force 1 January 2022); Reglement (UE) 2021/2115
Effective
January 1, 2022
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Intra-EU movement of compliant hemp products (less than or equal to 0.3% THC, EU-catalogue varieties) benefits from free movement under TFEU Articles 34-36 as confirmed by the CJEU Kanavape judgment (C-663/18, 19 Nov 2020). Imports from third countries must meet the 0.3% THC ceiling, provide certificates of analysis, and - for ingestibles - hold a Novel Food authorisation. DGCCRF and customs (DGDDI) actively seize non-compliant flower, HHC products and undeclared cannabinoid isolates.
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