How does the PS primary work?

First members amend and vote on the "program" which this year is about completely empty, this is now done and the program should be published in the coming weeks (after successful amendments are merged).

Then at the end of the year members vote on the primary to select the candidates.

Talking with older member of the PS, the program is devoid of content so the candidate would sign it and they are now free to add their own stuff.

It's politics for politics, but I find that strategy not completely stupid in the current context.

Alex in Toulouse

According to INSERM & SOFRES studies, there are an estimated 2 million regular cannabis smokers in France (and 3 million occasional), "regular" meaning god knows what as no quantity/regularity studies have ever been made. But judging from friends who used to be heavy smokers but who are now reasonable due to having work/children etc, I would say that regular, at an average/working age, would mean 2 joints a day.

A joint (or gum) could easily yield a 90% profit margin (including 60% tax). Sell it at 1.11 euro piece, and that's a 1 euro profit a take. Or 4 million euros a day for the State. or 1.5 billion a year on regular users only.

Your numbers look correct according to this article (2004 market 0.6 to 2.1 billion euro)

But you forgot two other positive effects: according to official statistics, drug related police action (90% for cannabis) lead to about an impressive 10% of the total of "garde a vue" in France in the past twelve month. Number of arrests is over 100 000 per year. Removing this "work" will have a cost benefit for the society as well. The second positive effect is that "banlieue" dealers will have to incorporate and become legitimate businesses and so will have less unfair harassing by the police (and get to know "le fisc" :).