Ordering legal cannabis online: what you need to know

Recreational cannabis remains prohibited under French law. What circulates under the commercial label of « legal cannabis » corresponds to CBD hemp, authorised since the Conseil d'État decision of 29 December 2022, provided the variety appears in the European or French catalogue and the finished product contains at most 0.30 % THC. This confusion of vocabulary explains part of the disappointed expectations of online buyers.

A serious site publishes, product by product, the certificate of analysis issued by an independent laboratory: CBD content, THC level, absence of heavy metals, pesticides and prohibited cannabinoids such as HHC or THCP. Our guide to reading a certificate of analysis sets out the entries to check before any purchase.

Since 15 May 2026, the DGAL has been withdrawing from the market CBD food products that lack a Novel Food authorisation: gummies, capsules, bud-containing infusions, drinks. A site that continues to sell these formats online without authorisation is in a position of non-compliance. Flowers, resins, oils for cosmetic use and e-liquids, for their part, remain within the legal framework established in 2022.

Before paying, check the site's legal notices: company name, SIRET number, physical address in France or in the European Union, clear terms and conditions of sale. The absence of that information, or a payment requested solely through untraceable means, should raise the alarm. Our guide to choosing a CBD supplier sets out all the criteria to check.

The sale of CBD is not subject to a specific legal minimum age under French law, but most serious retailers set a limit of 18 as a matter of commercial caution. Favour a secure bank card payment over a direct transfer to a personal account, and keep the invoice, which states the batch number of the product bought.

A product ordered online remains subject to the same rules as a purchase in a shop: THC threshold, prohibition of health claims, absence of prohibited synthetic cannabinoids. The convenience of ordering online dispenses with no check at all.

Can you really order cannabis online in France?

No, not recreational cannabis, which remains a narcotic. Only compliant CBD, with a finished product at 0.30 % THC maximum, can be sold.

How can an unreliable CBD site be spotted?

The absence of a certificate of analysis or of complete legal notices, and unauthorised health promises, are the main warning signals.

Can CBD gummies or capsules still be sold online?

No, since 15 May 2026 these ingested products have been withdrawn from the market for want of a Novel Food authorisation, save for duly authorised exceptions.

Is online payment for CBD secure?

It is as secure as for any ordinary online purchase, provided you go through a secure payment platform and check the seller's legal notices.