Since 2020, law enforcement in France has been able to issue fixed penalties for drug consumption as a criminal offense, without needing to go through the judicial system. This change has led to a significant rise in recorded drug-related offenses, with more than 367,000 people charged in 2025, and over 80% of these charges were for simply using drugs, mostly cannabis. Between 2016 and 2025, the number of people arrested for drug use increased by 70%, compared to a 40% rise in arrests for drug trafficking. This increase has been especially pronounced since 2020, when law enforcement gained the authority to fine users directly, without following a full criminal procedure, thanks to the expansion of the fixed criminal penalty (AFD) to include drug use. The fixed criminal penalty, originally introduced in 1926 for traffic violations, was expanded in 2016 to handle traffic offenses more quickly and simply, reducing the need for imprisonment. In the years that followed, its use was extended to cover over 100 different offenses, including drug use since 2019 or 2020, street selling, graffiti, and more recently, bringing alcohol into stadiums during sports events since 2023, and the use of nitrous oxide outside a medical context or attending unreported rave parties since 2026. Between 2019 and 2024, police and gendarmerie issued over 1.6 million fixed penalties, with an average annual growth of 14%. Over 40% of these fines were for drug use. In 2024, 76% of drug use arrests were dealt with using the AFD, compared to 26% in 2020. This shift has reduced the number of minors arrested for drug use, from 17% between 2016 and 2018 to just 4% in 2024. The use of the AFD has led to a significant rise in the number of reported drug use offenses. In areas where the AFD was used in more than 75% of cases involving drug use, the total number of recorded drug use offenses increased by 161% between 2019 and 2024. This increase is seen across all regions but is most noticeable in areas where the AFD is used consistently, such as Bouches-du-Rhône, Hérault, Rhône, Paris, and Seine-Saint-Denis. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the AFD not only increases the number of recorded offenses but also highlights regional differences in how laws are applied. The use of AFD has contributed to the "re-penalization" of drug use, making it more likely that simple consumption is punished, even though it remains a criminal offense. The AFD is recorded in criminal records, which increases the rate of recidivism in France. A first assessment shows that the recovery rate of AFDs is low, with only 35% of fines for drug use paid between 2020 and 2024, and even less in 2025 at 24%. This is half the recovery rate of traffic-related fines. The Ripost Law of 2026 increased the AFD for drug use from 200 to 500 euros, with late payments now costing 1,000 euros, up from 450 euros previously. This increase raises concerns about non-recovery of fines. According to the Court of Audit, the number of irregularities in AFD implementation has grown significantly, with errors and inconsistencies in the application of the law, including cases where the AFD was applied to minors or repeat offenders, or where individuals were fined for multiple offenses, some of which should not have been subject to AFD. Practical difficulties in distinguishing between legal CBD products and cannabis have also led to disputes, and research highlights social inequalities in how the AFD is applied, with some groups being targeted more than others. While the AFD is designed to simplify and speed up the criminal process for common offenses, it has raised concerns about the rights of the accused. Various parliamentary debates and the Ombudsman have expressed worries about the violation of legal rights, such as the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and the principle of individualized sentencing. The National Consultative Commission on Human Rights criticized the AFD as a "retreat in rights for the accused," while some professional unions described it as an "automatic punishment" without proper judicial oversight or human interaction. Addiction care professionals have also criticized the AFD for undermining the principle of individualized sanctions and the possibility of a care-oriented approach for dependent users. The AFD moves away from the original intent of the 1970 law, which aimed to balance punishment with care for individuals who use drugs, excluding those who commit other offenses.