A new step towards access to medical cannabis

The Ministry of Health and Access to Care announced in a statement that the texts defining the framework for the production and authorization of cannabis for medical use have been notified to the European Commission. This is a new stage in the development of a secure, framed access medical cannabis in France.

Until 31 March 2026, the management of patients included in the experimentation, and still under treatment, will be insured on an exceptional basis for medicinal products which have been authorized under the experiment and invoiced by pharmacists of a pharmacy for domestic use (PUI).

The High Authority for Health (HAS) is currently in charge of evaluating the therapeutic value of cannabis. Its opinion, expected in the coming months, will determine whether these drugs can be covered by Medicare and at what rate of reimbursement.

As a reminder, in the context of the therapeutic cannabis experiment, the use of medicinal products based on this herb is authorized in particular for patients suffering from:

• neuropathic pain refractory to accessible therapies (drug or non-drug);
• certain forms of drug-resistant epilepsy;
• certain reluctant symptoms in oncology associated with cancer or with an anti-cancer treatment.

However, no new patients can enter the experiment since March 27, 2024. This extension ensures continuity of treatment for patients already on the device ; they are therefore the only ones who can benefit from the prescription and dispensing of cannabis-based medicines. Currently, such treatments are subject to a use authorization, issued by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM), for a temporary period. The purchase of these cannabis-based medicines is reimbursed by the Health Insurance until the end of the experiment, so until 31 March 2026 at the latest.

In particular, patients are informed of:

• special precautions for the use of these medicinal products;
• possible side effects;
• and contraindications.