Therapeutic cannabis

Verified 28 March 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Medical cannabis: Temporary authorizations issued before December 31, 2024

Published on 5 January 2024

Law No. 2023-1250 of 26 December 2023 on financing social security for 2024 provides that cannabis-based medicines will be subject to a temporary use authorization issued by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM).

Testing is being extended until a cannabis-based drug is authorized and available, and no later than December 31, 2024.

Between 26 March 2024 and 31 December 2024 at the latestHowever, the medicinal products used for the patients currently included in the experiment will be covered by the Health Insurance on the basis of an amount fixed by decree.

Implementing legislation is forthcoming.

Once these texts are published, this page will be updated.

In the meantime, this information remains valid.

You want to know if the medical use of cannabis in the form of medicines can be authorized? Yes, this authorization is experimental and valid until December 31, 2024. We are talking about medical cannabis. The patient is informed of the special precautions for use of these medicinal products, of these adverse reactions and of the contraindications. We present you with the information you need to know.

Warning  

Since March 27, 2024However, no new patient can enter the experiment. Only patients included in the experiment prior to this date may continue to receive prescriptions and dispensations of cannabis-based medicinal products.

Cannabis use is permitted in the following situations:

  • Neuropathic pain refractory to accessible therapies (drug or nondrug)
  • Some forms of drug-resistant epilepsy
  • Some cancer-reluctant symptoms related to cancer or cancer therapy
  • Palliative situations
  • Painful spasticity due to multiple sclerosis or other central nervous system disorders.

Cannabis-containing drugs are prescribed for:

  • Insufficient relief
  • Or poor tolerance of accessible therapies, whether or not they are drugs.

Your consent is required.

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You are tracked within a structure selected for this experiment

You can express within this structure your wish to participate in this experiment.

This structure can also offer it.

Other case

You can discuss this with your attending physician to address you to one of these structures.

Finding a structure that participates in the experimentation of medical cannabis

Please note

The final decision is up to them exclusively to the doctor of the structure selected for this experiment.

Cannabis-based drugs can be prescribed in 2 pharmaceutical forms:

  • Spray inhalation (dried flowers)
  • Oral (oil, tablet containing THC and CBD)

These 2 pharmaceutical forms contain THC and CBD.

Cannabis for smoking is excluded from the protocol.

Reminder

The use of drugs while driving is sanctioned.

If agreement is reached, a prescription is issued for a prescription up to 28 days by the healthcare professionals of the structures selected for this experiment.

Thereafter, the prescription can be issued by the doctor you have chosen, subject to his agreement and prior training.

Once you have this prescription, you will present it:

  • Either in the pharmacy of the reference structure where your inclusion took place
  • Or in the city pharmacy you have chosen, subject to its agreement and the prior training of several of its pharmacists.

The 1era Delivery can be carried out by the city pharmacy you have designated.

Renewal of the order must be done at most every 28 days.

These medicines are covered by the Health Insurance.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For more information

    National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM)

    By telephone

    01 55 87 30 00

    From 08:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday.

    By email

    https://ansm.sante.fr/page/formulaire-medicaments

    You can indicate that your application is for medical cannabis.

    By postal mail

    ANSM - Site de Saint Denis

    143/147, boulevard Anatole France

    93285 SAINT-DENIS CEDEX