French Cannabis Medical and CBD Colloquium Highlights Regulatory Hurdles

A recent colloquium on medical cannabis and CBD held at the French National Assembly highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges in the sector. Organized by Ludovic Mendès, the event drew attention to the advancements made since the first colloquium four years ago, as well as the persistent administrative and political barriers that continue to hinder access for patients and the growth of the hemp industry

Robin Reda, former president of the Mission d’informations on cannabis usage, opened the event by acknowledging the long road still ahead for cannabis acceptance in France. He noted that while parliamentary support for patient care is strong, significant administrative obstacles remain, particularly concerning medical cannabis. These barriers are not due to parliamentary resistance but rather a lack of understanding and support from other governmental bodies

Nicolas Authier, president of the Temporary Scientific Committee for monitoring medical cannabis trials, expressed disappointment over the lack of new developments in the experimentation phase. Despite positive reports, he emphasized the need to move beyond the current trial limitations, which burden general practitioners and hospitals with heavy patient inclusion procedures. He called for strong support from patients and politicians to push for broader access to medical cannabis

Mado Gilanton, president of the patient advocacy group Apaiser S&C, voiced frustration over the inadequate interest and management by the French health authorities, particularly in ensuring a steady supply of cannabis-based medications for trials. Her sentiments were echoed by industry leaders like Franz Deschamps of Santé France Cannabis, who discussed the regulatory steps needed to establish a domestic medical cannabis production, including drafting new decrees to ensure cultivation site security and product stability

The colloquium also featured discussions on CBD and hemp wellness, with Ludovic Rachou of UIVEC advocating for the classification of CBD as a dietary supplement to simplify regulations and reduce taxes. In contrast, other industry groups like EIHA and AFPC argued for a full-spectrum approach to hemp, highlighting the potential threats posed by European 'Novel Food' regulations, which could undermine the organic hemp sector and favor cheaper CBD imports

The event concluded with Ludovic Mendès expressing hope that this would be the last colloquium needed on these issues, urging for swift legislative action to address regulatory hurdles. He proposed measures to secure patient access to therapeutic cannabis and improve road safety regulations concerning THC levels. A legislative proposal is expected soon to address these concerns and potentially integrate changes into the 2024 Social Security Financing Bill