This chapter explores the prohibition of ayahuasca in France, contextualizing it within broader European trends of criminalization and skepticism toward ayahuasca groups. Unlike other nations where ayahuasca is framed primarily as a public health or drug policy issue, France’s ban is deeply intertwined with concerns about cults and sectarian movements. The chapter traces the legal history of ayahuasca in France, from early arrests of Santo Daime members in 1999 to pharmacological reports that reinterpreted ayahuasca use through the lens of “chemical submission,” a legal category that gained a new meaning of “brainwashing” associated to the consumption of ayahuasca. Examining court decisions, media coverage, and expert analyses, the chapter reveals how the French state conflates ayahuasca use with sectarianism, further complicating the prospects of legal recognition for religious and traditional practices involving the brew.