CBD in Lyon: CBD dispensers installed in the city

In the Rhone (Lyon in particular), several vending machines for CBD (cannabidiol) products are in place and many others are in preparation, to sell this product legally, not to be confused with cannabis which is prohibited.

After the baguette and pizza vending machines, here are the first vending machines for cannabidiolnot to be confused with its illegal cousin, cannabis.

In the Rhône region, at least 3 dispensers have already been installed in Caluire-et-Cuire, Genay and Givors. Another machine should be set up in the Part-Dieu shopping centre soon, thus offering a much wider visibility to these products. All of them were set up by Eric Perrin, a local entrepreneur and nurse, who created the company WP Services for this purpose.

CBD, a legal product according to its supporters

In these machines, what is sold is a product made from CBD, authorized in France. Cannabidiol is one of the active substances from hemp, but it does not have the very "special" and dangerous effects of cannabis since it does not contain any psychotropic drugs. More precisely, cannabis contains a very high level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This rate remains legal as long as it does not exceed 0.2% of the product sold. CBD is therefore included in this authorization with, according to its representatives, relaxing and de-stressing effects to fight against anxiety, rheumatism, injuries or anxiety.

From chocolate bars to lollipops and pastilles

Today, it is possible to sell all forms of CBD products: chocolate bars, but also chewing gums, honey, lollipops, creams and ointments, drinks or for those who prefer suppositories ... But what works best are oils and infusions, to be placed in the tea balls. The recipe is very simple: leave to infuse in hot water for a few minutes and enjoy.

What about taste? "It depends on the individual. You can still smell the product" explains Eric Perrin. "It is not a medicine at all, nor is it a therapeutic indication. You should always ask your doctor's advice first. Studies have already demonstrated the beneficial effects on health. It is a product of well-being, for relaxation. We don't go beyond that.“

Court rules to allow sale

The Court of Cassation ruled on Wednesday 24 June that CBD could be sold in France if it was produced in another European country. In addition, the highest court in the country overturned a ruling against the manager of a shop in Grenoble that sold cannabidiol-based products. The actors of the sector which sharpens the economic appetites were pleased with this "new slap in the face" inflicted on the government in this file with rebounds.

The French authorities have closed down dozens of shops selling this "light cannabis" in recent years, but are clashing in court with European regulations, which allow it. In November 2020, the European justice had rejected the prohibition of CBD in France, underlining the harmlessness of this molecule, and thus that it cannot be considered as a narcotic nor a medicine.

In the Grenoble shop case, the Court of Cassation, which ordered a retrial in Paris, also justified its ruling in the name of respect for the principle of free movement of goods within the European Union (EU), arguing that the sale of CBD in one member state cannot be prohibited if it is legally produced in another member state.

The judges of the Court of Appeal of Grenoble "did not seek, while it was asked of them, if the CBD discovered in the store held by the defendant was manufactured legally in another state of the EU," explained the Court. But it also specified that it does not decide the substantive question of whether France can validly prohibit the possession and marketing of CBD on its territory in the name of the objective of protecting public health. 

After the rejection of the ban on CBD by the European Court of Justice in November, the French government had reviewed its copy and announced that it would authorize CBD products, but that the sale of flowers and dried leaves, considered more harmful, would remain prohibited. But this last provision is also questioned by the Court of Cassation, which considered Wednesday that CBD should "be marketed even if it is extracted from the entire plant", including the flowers and leaves.

His ruling is a new "slap in the face for the current government line", said in a statement the association L630, specializing in drug law, considering that the highest French court "has imposed a rigid line of law that the government will probably no longer be able to deviate from. "It is a slap in the face for the government, which maintains, against the interests of the French industry, and today against the decision of its own judicial institution, a desire to ban the flower that is dictated only by political or electoral reasons," said Aurelien Delecroix, president of the hemp union.

CBD, applied directly to your smartphone

While waiting for a definitive legislative framework, CBD-based products continue to develop, with smartphone applications to easily find all the points of sale, whether automatic or not. This is a great way to relax and regain a bit of zen attitude at any time. These applications allow their users to make their order quickly and clearly, while not having the need to move.