France Moves Toward Banning HHC Products Amid Health Concerns
France plans to ban HHC products due to health concerns, with action expected within weeks, according to Health Minister François Braun
Key Points
- 1France plans to ban HHC products due to health concerns
- 2Health Minister François Braun expects action within weeks
- 3HHC is not listed under UN drug conventions, complicating control
- 4Investigations into HHC's effects are underway, with results due in June
- 5Concerns include product safety and lack of traceability
France is poised to ban the sale of products containing hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), as announced by Health Minister François Braun. On May 15, Braun stated that the prohibition could be implemented within weeks, reflecting the government's growing concern over the substance's potential health risks
HHC, a psychoactive compound similar to THC found in cannabis, is not currently listed under the United Nations drug conventions of 1961 and 1971, which complicates its regulation. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has been monitoring HHC as a new psychoactive substance, but its pharmacological and behavioral effects on humans remain largely unstudied
The potential ban comes after countries like Finland, Austria, and Switzerland have already moved to control HHC. Anne Batisse from the Paris Addictovigilance Centre notes that France typically classifies substances based on health complications, but data on HHC is still sparse. Legal expert Yann Bisiou suggests that banning HHC would require classifying it as a narcotic, which could involve lengthy studies to prove public health risks
The Ministry of Health has initiated investigations through regional addictovigilance centers to assess HHC's effects, with preliminary findings expected in June. A reported case of psychoactive effects from HHC-laced CBD has already raised alarms, according to the General Directorate of Health. Batisse warns of the dangers posed to uninformed users who may mistakenly believe HHC is a safe, legal alternative to cannabis
Concerns extend beyond health risks to include issues of product safety and transparency. Associations highlight the lack of traceability and potential contamination with heavy metals and solvents in HHC products. These arguments echo previous debates over CBD regulation, underscoring the need for stringent oversight in emerging cannabis-related markets