Appel du 18 joint
The Appel du 18 joint is a manifesto calling for the legalization of cannabis in France, published on 18 June 1976 in the daily Libération.
In 1993, the Cannabis Information and Research Collective brought out the text of the appeal to make it a petition; since then it has organized annual gatherings on 18 June, to challenge public opinion and relaunch the debate on the prohibition of cannabis.
Content of the original appeal
Its name is a play on words between the appeal of 18 June and the word "joint", usually designating cannabis cigarettes.The text began as follows: “Cigarettes, pastis, aspirin, coffee, red wine, sedatives are part of our daily life. On the other hand, a simple “joint” of cannabis can lead you to prison or to a psychiatrist.” The manifesto called for "the total decriminalization of cannabis, its use, its possession, its cultivation or its introduction on French territory in quantity of current consumption". The text clearly specifies that it does not call for consumption but for the end of a policy which denies the subject. The signatories then demanded the establishment of legislation identical to that of the Netherlands, which has tolerated the sale and consumption of cannabis since 1976. Many personalities from the entertainment world, intellectuals, and doctors have signed this text.
Partial list of the 1976 signatories
Among the signatories of the appeal are: Jean Jacques Abrahams, Bernard Kouchner, Henri Leclerc, Gilles Deleuze, Philippe Sollers, Bernadette Lafont, Bertrand Tavernier, Isabelle Huppert, Philippe Druillet, Jean-François Bizot, Les Cahiers du cinéma, André Glucksmann, Gotlib, Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Léon Mercadet, Philippe Val, Christiane Rochefort, Félix Guattari, Edgar Morin, Maxime Le Forestier, Valérie Lagrange, Romain Bouteille, Pierre Barouh, Yvan Dautin, Zouzou, Roland Topor, Bulle Ogier, Colette Magny, Marjorie Alessandrini, Pierre Bourgeade, François Béranger, Jacques Baratier, Jacques-Laurent Bost, Jeannette Colombel, Jean Chesneaux, Copi, Pierre Clémenti, Jean Carpentier, Louis-Jean Calvet, Charles Duits, Marc Dachy, Gérard Fromanger, Patrick Font, Philippe Fourastié, Alain Geismar, Gébé, Gir, Jean-Francis Held, Dominique Issermann, Alain Jaubert, Benoît Jacquot, Alain Kan, Jean-Marc Lévy-Leblond, Jean-François Lyotard, François de Negroni, Mandryka, Marc'O, Nicole Muchnik, Gilles Nicoulaud, Richard Pinhas, Severo Sarduy, Jérôme Savary, Patrice Van Eersel, Joan-Pau Verdier et François Châtelet.Gathering of 18 Joint
The IARC, an association created in 1991, took up the idea in 1993, by organizing a meeting in Paris and Lyon every 18 June to demand the legalization of cannabis.From the 2010s, gatherings have multiplied in the provinces.
Besides the festive and convivial aspect of the gatherings, the 18th joint is one of the rare occasions to discuss drugs publicly. Thus, many personalities occasionally join the meeting of 18 Joint, including some political representatives.
Meetings in 2013
In 2013, gatherings took place in different cities of France for the appeal of the 18 Joint:- Paris - Large lawn of La Villette, on 18 June at 18 hours.
- Lyon - Grande prairie, Gerland park, at 6 p.m.
- Toulouse - Parc Compans, on 18 June at 18 hours.
- Lille - Matisse Garden, on 18 June at 18 hours.
- La Roche-sur-Yon - Prefecture Square, 6 p.m.
- Papeete - Bougainville Park, at 4 p.m.
- St Leu - La Falaise, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Brive la Gaillarde - Place de La Guierle, at 6 p.m.