In May 2000, French customs agents seized a $5000US order of hemp clothing because of a pot leaf symbol on the fabric.
Customs agents claimed that the leaf violated article L630 of France’s penal code, which prohibits presenting “narcotics” in a favourable manner.
The clothes were shipped from Crucial Creations in the USA, and destined for La Maison du Chanvre in Lyon.
The clothes were held for six months, and then released in late October.
In 1998 The Body Shop faced similar harassment from French authorities for their hemp cosmetics line, whose packaging contains a pot leaf, but their products are now openly sold on French shelves.
