Important step made towards general use of medical cannabis in France
Proponents say the move is a ‘welcome relief for patients’ but some uncertainties remain
Specialists now estimate that cannabis-based treatments may become more available within six months
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France has “reached a new stage in the development of supervised and secure access to medical cannabis”, the Health Ministry has said, after the publication of a new document aiming to clarify the cannabis-based treatment.
The Health Ministry made the statement in a press release on March 19 saying “the texts defining the framework for the production and authorisation of cannabis for medical use have been sent to the European Commission”.
It outlines:
A clearer situation for patients treated as part of existing experiments into the use of cannabis-based treatments, with the current trial period extended until March 31, 2026
That this is a major extension to the previously-planned end-date of summer 2025 (itself already an extension from the end of 2024)
Opening the possibility for more widespread use of the treatments
‘Welcome relief for patients’
“We warmly thank the [health] minister for his support and remain ready to ensure that a medicinal product sector is created, with all the stakeholders involved from the start,” said Ludovic Rachou, president of the Union des industriels pour la valorisation des extraits de chanvre (union for the promotion of hemp extracts) in a press release.
He said the announcement was both a welcome “relief for patients who no longer have to plan for withdrawal” and a “reason for hope for future patients”.
Previous delay on vote
It comes after MPs voted, at the end of 2023, for measures to allow the commercialisation of cannabis-based treatments in appropriate medical circumstances. At the time these were granted a ‘transitional status’ for five years, to enable gradual roll-out and a trial period.
Read more: Medical cannabis gets go-ahead for pain relief in French hospitals
Yet, this never came into force, because of the requirement for the Health Ministry to notify the European Commission. This only happened this week, after years of criticism from proponents, who claimed that the government was delaying this due to political instability or a lack of will.
The new announcement has ended the deadlock.
Now, depending on outcomes of discussions with the European Union, specialists estimate treatments could start within six months.
Read also: Successful trial means medicinal cannabis set to be available in France
Ongoing debate
However, it is not yet clear whether these treatments will be reimbursed by state health insurance l’Assurance Maladie. This depends on the results of a future evaluation by health authority la Haute Autorité de Santé.
Scientific debates around the effectiveness and safety of medical cannabis continue.
Read also: Medical cannabis farm and factory plan divides Dordogne village
Read more: Is medicinal cannabis legal in France and is CBD available in high-street shops?
Some proponents claim it has strong pain- and anxiety-relieving capacities, but a major study published in the British Medical Journal in 2021 - which was based on numerous other studies - claimed that treatments based on medical cannabis provide “limited” or “very limited” improvement in patient outcomes.
