PARIS: The French government announced yesterday that it will slash fines as part of a new policy on cannabis use but that it will not pursue decriminalisation of the drug, reports AFP. Cannabis use is on the rise in France, with around 700,000 people estimated to use the drug every day.

“We are going to introduce simplified fines for this offence,” said Interior Minister Gerard Collomb. Collomb said further action against offenders would remain an option, adding: “Therefore there will be no decriminalisation for cannabis use.” The new fines are expected to be set at 150 to 200 euros ($180 to $250). France’s current laws around drug use are some of Europe’s strictest, providing for fines of up to 3,750 euros and prison sentences of up to a year. In 2015, the last year for which figures were published, 140,000 people were arrested for drug use offences, though only 3,098 were given prison sentences. Parliament speaker François de Rugy hailed the new policy as “pragmatic”.