Selling CBD in French tobacconists: what changed in 2026

By Manon, CBD specialist at Deli Hemp Pro

In France, tobacconists have become one of the most important outlets for CBD in just a few years. A buraliste is a licensed tobacco retailer (a débitant de tabac), and there are more than 24,000 of them across the country, with customers who are already used to walking in for smoking-related products. This article looks at what happened in this channel in 2026: useful if you supply French tobacconists, buy in France or simply follow Europe's largest CBD market.

The tobacconists who do well with CBD do not stock a wide range. They pick a handful of suitable products, choose a reliable supplier and know the legal framework. Our trade CBD catalogue shows the kind of range that suits this format.

What changed for French tobacconists selling CBD in 2026

The finance bill and Article 23: the measure that was dropped

At the end of 2025, one measure worried the whole French hemp trade. In its finance bill (the projet de loi de finances, or PLF, France's annual budget bill), the government considered treating CBD flowers and resins like tobacco. That would have meant an extra tax of more than 25% and, potentially, sales restricted to tobacconists alone. After strong mobilisation by the trade, the article was withdrawn from the final text in February 2026.

What that meant in practice for tobacconists:

• CBD prices stayed free of any additional tobacco duty;
• specialist CBD shops kept selling as before;
• tobacconists did not get a monopoly on the market;
• competition stayed open between all sales channels.

Novel Food: what changed on 15 May 2026

The EU Novel Food regulation covers any food or ingredient that was not consumed to a significant degree in Europe before May 1997. CBD extracted from hemp has been classed as a Novel Food since 2019. As no CBD Novel Food has been authorised in the EU, France's food safety authority (DGAL) has banned foodstuffs containing CBD since 15 May 2026.

Under French rules, the following were not affected:

• compliant hemp flowers and leaves (THC below 0.3%);
• CBD cosmetics;
• CBD e-liquids, which fall under separate regulations.

Products that now need a valid Novel Food authorisation, and therefore cannot be sold as food in France:

• CBD oils and extracts sold as food;
• CBD herbal infusions;
• CBD gummies and sweets without a compliant dossier.

That is why a supplier who can provide certificates of analysis and regulatory paperwork for every product is essential. Our compliant CBD flowers for resellers come with batch documentation.

CBD rules for tobacconists in France: the basics

A French tobacconist may sell CBD products without any specific licence. Several obligations apply, however, to every professional CBD retailer in France, whatever their status:

• products containing less than 0.3% THC, backed by laboratory analyses;
• hemp varieties listed in the EU catalogue of authorised seed varieties;
• no medical or therapeutic claims, whether on point-of-sale material or spoken;
• no sales to minors under any circumstances;
• full traceability: invoices, certificates of analysis and batch numbers.

Recommended paperwork

Tobacconist status does not automatically cover CBD sales. If CBD becomes a significant share of turnover, several steps are advisable:

• declaring the new activity to the chamber of commerce;
• adding a business activity code (NAF code) if needed;
• informing French customs of the new line of business;
• keeping every supplier document on file.

If the consumer protection authority (DGCCRF) or customs come to inspect, full transparency remains the best protection.

Which CBD products suit a tobacconist?

Not every CBD product works behind a tobacco counter. Space is tight and customers are in a hurry, so products need to be simple to explain, well packaged and quick to sell.

The formats that suit tobacconists best:

• CBD flowers in individual packs (1 g, 3 g, 5 g);
• CBD resin and hash in small weights (1 g, 3 g);
• CBD pre-rolls, a familiar format bought on impulse;
• CBD e-liquids, an obvious fit for vaping customers who already visit.

A product that customers understand sells without explanation. A complicated one takes up staff time and slows the queue.

What to avoid at the start

CBD oils sold as food fall under Novel Food and should only come from suppliers with complete files. At the start, a short list of best sellers earns more than a wide range at risk of going unsold. Our wholesale CBD pre-rolls are a good example of a format built for counter sales.

Choosing a CBD supplier as a tobacconist

Choosing the supplier is the most important decision. A poor one exposes you to failed inspections, non-compliant products and a damaged reputation.

What a serious CBD supplier must provide:

• a certificate of analysis (COA) for each batch, issued by an independent laboratory accredited by COFRAC, the French accreditation body;
• full traceability of the hemp: variety, country of origin, growing method;
• detailed invoices with product references and batch numbers;
• compliant packaging with no medical claims and the legal information clearly shown.

Why work with Deli Hemp

Deli Hemp has been a French CBD wholesaler for more than five years. We manufacture directly with a partner laboratory in the Île-de-France region around Paris, in a short supply chain with no middlemen. Every product comes with an up-to-date certificate of analysis. Our packaging is designed for resale at a tobacco counter: resealable pouches, small sizes, display stands and point-of-sale material.

See our bulk CBD flower catalogue, our CBD resins for resellers and our CBD pre-rolls, all suited to tobacconist resale. Our products comply with French law (delta-9-THC ≤ 0.3%). Outside France, rules on hemp flowers and resins vary and can be much stricter; in the UK, for example, the status of hemp flower remains contested, so check what you may resell before you order.

Real margins on CBD in a French tobacconist

Margins on CBD are well above those on traditional tobacco. On CBD flowers bought wholesale, a tobacconist can typically apply a margin of between 40% and 70%, depending on the product and the format.

To estimate the potential of a CBD shelf, here is an illustrative example (not current prices):

• small-bud CBD flowers bought at €2.50/g and resold at €5 to €6/g;
• on a 500 g order, that gives a potential gross margin of more than €1,250;
• resins and pre-rolls often carry even higher margins;
• a CBD shelf can also draw custom to the rest of the shop.

For current trade prices, see the tiered pricing shown on each product page.

Avoiding unsold stock

Before widening the range, ask yourself:

• Does this product sell well in my type of shop?
• Can it be presented without a long explanation?
• Can it lift the average basket without cluttering the shelf?

Start with five to eight best sellers, see what goes in 30 days, then adjust. It is the most reliable way to build a profitable CBD shelf without unnecessary risk.

Selling CBD at a French tobacco counter with confidence

It comes down to compliant products, a reliable supplier and a grasp of the basic legal obligations. The essentials:

• work only with a supplier who provides an up-to-date COA for every batch;
• keep all invoices and certificates of analysis to hand in case of inspection;
• never make medical or therapeutic claims, spoken or on point-of-sale material;
• since May 2026, check Novel Food compliance for any CBD food product;
• start with a short selection and adjust to actual sales.

Supplying tobacconists or running one? Open a trade account with Deli Hemp to see wholesale prices from your first order.

Frequently asked questions

Do French tobacconists need a licence to sell CBD?

No specific licence is required. They must still meet the general rules for CBD retail in France: products under 0.3% THC backed by lab analyses, no medical claims, no sales to minors and full traceability of every batch.

Was CBD taxed like tobacco in France in 2026?

No. The finance bill article that would have treated CBD flowers and resins like tobacco was withdrawn from the final text in February 2026, so no tobacco duty was added and tobacconists did not get a monopoly.

Which CBD products sell best at a tobacco counter?

Small, familiar formats that need no explanation: flowers in 1 to 5 g packs, resin in 1 or 3 g, pre-rolls and CBD e-liquids for customers who already vape.