Macron warns youngsters as he sniffs marijuana on French Guiana trip
The French President reminds crowds he "still has a nose" and tells young smokers the habit "will not help with your schoolwork".
Sunday 29 October 2017 12:52, UK
French President Emmanuel Macron reminded youngsters smoking marijuana "will not help with your schoolwork" as he sniffed a pungent whiff while visiting the overseas territory of French Guiana.
Crowds flocked to see the politician, who joked: "I still have a nose."
He posed for pictures with locals in the Crique neighbourhood in the capital Cayenne on Friday night, before causing the crowd to laugh as he asked: "So, there are some of you who do not only smoke cigarettes, huh?"
"That will not help with your schoolwork," he was heard telling the smokers on a video posted to his Facebook page.
"You have to tell the youngest!" Mr Macron added.
The humorous moment comes after he wrapped up his 48-hour tour of the South American territory, which borders northern Brazil, on Saturday.
The contrast in tone followed demonstrations at the start of his trip after he told citizens he was "not Father Christmas" as he ruled out additional state aid.
Security and unemployment issues have plagued the country and sparked a wave of protests just six months ago.
Five people were arrested and two police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the latest demonstrations on Thursday.
"The state has made too many promises which have not been kept," said Mr Macron as he arrived in the country.
"So I'm here to tell things as I see them, make commitments that I can keep during my term in office and help provide the authority which is essential on this territory."
Mr Macron's "Father Christmas" comment riled up some activists.
David Riche, head of an association of local mayors, told France Info Radio: "We don't need Father Christmas, we need a government that realises that in Guiana nothing works."