ANSM adds new cannabinoids (H2CBD, H4CBD, THCP...) to the list of narcotics

After announcing last March its intention to classify new cannabinoids on the list of narcotics, the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) used the European Commission's emergency procedure in early May to present its proposal for the prohibition of certain drugs. cannabinoids.

In detail, the ANSM wanted to ban :

• H2-CBD or dihydrocannabidiol or H2-cannabidiol
• H4-CBD or tetrahydrocannabidiol or H4-cannabidiol
• Any substance derived from the benzo[c]chromene ring, whether unsubstituted or partially or fully hydrogenated on ring A (defined as the unsaturated ring bearing the methyl in position 9 of said ring in tetrahydrocannabinol), substituted or unsubstituted at one of the following positions on the ring:
  • In position 1 by a hydroxyl function, esterified or not, or an alkoxy function
  • In position 2 or 4 with a carboxyl function
  • In position 3 by an adamantyl substituent or by an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cyanoalkyl, haloalkyl, cyanoalkynyl, haloalkynyl or alkoxy chain, whether or not this chain is itself substituted by one or more alkyl substituents, whether or not cyclic or heterocyclic, and whether or not these cycles or heterocycles are themselves saturated.
  • In position 6 by one or two alkyl groups
  • In position 9 with a ketone, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or alkoxy function

excluding cannabinol or CBN.

In a communication from the ASNM this day, The Agency confirms the classification of these «new cannabinoids on the list of narcotics due to the risks and possible dependence associated with their use». The ban will apply from June 3.

In addition to H2CBD and H4CBD, our understanding includes all variations of delta-9-THC : THCP, THCJD, THCB, THCH... and the HHC, HHCO, HHCP and HCCPO clearly named by ASNM. The HHC had already been put on the narcotics list last June.

The ANSM also includes THCa in its list, which seems strange given its natural presence in the hemp plant and in its «classic» by-products: flour, oil, straw, etc., in sometimes measurable proportions, without THCa having any psychotropic or addictive effect. We are also waiting to find out whether THCV is also involved, as it occurs naturally in plants in more or less measurable quantities, depending on the variety.

As far as we know, the various stakeholders are already planning to attack the future decree, as they did with the HHC ban.