Where does France stand on medical cannabis?
In France, the subject of medical cannabis has long featured in political and social debates. Now pushed to the sidelines, the topic remains a priority for many patients, associations, and elected representatives.
In this article, we offer a brief retrospective of everything that has been put in place since 2021, as well as the progress that can reasonably be expected in the months and years ahead.
What is medical cannabis?
Cannabis is far more than an economic issue.
It is also a public health issue, with numerous debates surrounding its therapeutic use that have been ongoing for many years. Whilst some countries — notably the United States (or at least certain states) and Canada — are moving swiftly on the matter, France appears to be lagging considerably behind.
CBD, medical cannabis, and recreational cannabis (marijuana)
When it comes to CBD and cannabis, there is a considerable body of subjects and concepts to understand and distinguish. Closely related, they can sometimes cause confusion — which is precisely why CBD was long viewed with suspicion, despite having nothing to do with THC:
- CBD, or cannabidiol, is a molecule derived from the cannabis plant. It is legal in France and across the European Union, provided the THC content of the CBD product remains below 0.3%. Its consumption produces no adverse or side effects. CBD products are, however, associated with feelings of relaxation and calm.
- Medical cannabis is consumed for purely therapeutic purposes. It comes in the form of oils or creams for topical application. These products are generally fairly high in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant). In France, medical cannabis remains prohibited.
- Recreational cannabis is a product consumed in order to experience its psychoactive effects. It typically takes the form of dried flower, consumed by combustion.
Which conditions can be treated with medical cannabis?
It is legally prohibited to claim that medical cannabis (or indeed CBD) acts positively on the body in any specific way.
However, it is publicly acknowledged that research is focused on a number of very specific conditions.
Below is an overview of the pathologies for which medical cannabis may prove beneficial.
Chronic neuropathic pain
Neuropathic pain refers primarily to nerve pain — pain that resists all forms of treatment, however intensive, such as that associated with Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and other debilitating conditions. Medical cannabis may help alleviate patients’ suffering, enabling them to regain mobility with reduced pain levels.
Epilepsy and other treatment-resistant conditions
In the course of trials conducted in France on the potential of medical cannabis, researchers and clinicians examined the role of medical cannabis in treating so-called “pharmacoresistant” conditions — illnesses that conventional medicine is entirely unable to treat or relieve. This is notably the case for patients living with epilepsy.
Symptoms associated with cancer treatment
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy often experience severe side effects, including pain, profound fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and sleep disturbances.
Medical cannabis, through its relaxing properties, may help improve sleep quality. It also affects appetite (via the well-known “munchies” effect) and has a positive impact on the overall homeostatic cycle, which is frequently disrupted by intensive, long-term treatments.
Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
Patients living with multiple sclerosis may benefit from medical cannabis. The same applies to other central nervous system conditions that cause involuntary and painful muscle contractions.
Medical cannabis helps reduce muscle spasticity (muscle spasms) that impairs movement or causes pain, particularly at night — potentially affecting sleep quality, mood, and energy levels.
How does medical cannabis prescribing work in France?
This is a central element of France’s hemp and cannabis policy. With regard to therapeutic use, this option was only made available during the trial phase to patients in a situation of therapeutic dead end — in other words, patients for whom no conventional treatment can be prescribed.
Who can prescribe, and under what conditions?
Within the framework of the trial that ran from March 2021 to December 2024, the prescribing of medical cannabis was subject to strict rules.
Only a limited number of patients were selected, based on criteria established by the ANSM (Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé — France’s national medicines agency).
This involved:
- An initial hospital prescription by a specialist physician (neurologist, oncologist, palliative care physician, etc.), confirming that the patient is in a situation of therapeutic dead end
- The possibility of renewal in a community setting by a GP trained in medical cannabis, once the treatment has been initiated by hospital specialists
- Dispensing exclusively through a partner pharmacy, with a secure prescription.
As cannabis is classified as a controlled substance and therefore features on the list of prohibited products, patients were supplied by producers and suppliers selected by the ANSM, within a tracked and secure distribution chain.
Oil or vaporisation: available forms and their effects
In the course of this large-scale French trial, two types of product were administered to patients:
- Cannabis oils, administered sublingually. Effects are generally felt within 5 to 15 minutes and last for 3 to 4 hours. This is a straightforward method of consuming legal THC whilst adhering to a dosage tailored to the individual’s situation. Each drop of oil contains a precise dose of CBD/THC, which can then be adjusted — increased or decreased — according to the patient’s response.
- Dried flower administered by vaporisation (rather than combustion). Vaporisation produces immediate effects lasting 4 to 6 hours. In terms of efficacy, it is the most effective method, offering optimal bioavailability.
Medical cannabis in France: what can we expect from 2026?
The medical cannabis trial will officially come to an end in March 2026, having already been extended beyond its original end date of 31 December 2024. What happens next? What will become of the patients currently enrolled in the programme?
From trial to mainstream use: the official timeline
Facing significant political and budgetary difficulties, France no longer considers the issue of hemp and medical cannabis one of its strategic priorities. It has, however, been confirmed that the trial will be extended until the end of March 2026.
The treatments involved could subsequently be progressively authorised and made available in pharmacies (on prescription for eligible patients).
In March 2025, Health Minister Yannick Neuder notified the European Commission of the legislative texts that will ultimately enable these medicines to be authorised by the ANSM, as well as the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medical purposes in France.
Barring any major objection, the relevant decrees could be published in the second half of 2025, with a gradual roll-out envisaged by late 2026 or early 2027. This represents a genuine victory for those wishing to turn to this type of more natural solution.
In the meantime, the trial continues. Approximately 700 patients are still being treated and monitored. The trial is, of course, no longer accepting new participants. Those wishing to access this form of treatment will therefore have to wait several weeks, months — or potentially longer, depending on the political calendar — before being able to do so legally and without restriction.