ANSM excludes THCA, CBNA, THCV and THCVA from its list of narcotics

Last week, France's Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament (ANSM) announced the banning of several cannabinoid molecules from June 3, including H2-CBD, H4-CBD and any variation on the delta-9-THC molecule. The aim was to put an end to the trade in synthetic cannabinoids made from CBD, and to anticipate the arrival of new ones.

However, in its press release, the Agency mentions THCA by name, what made us tick, the molecule being present in the plant's natural state in greater quantities than the THC. We also wondered whether THCV was involved, as the cannabinoid is also present in measurable quantities in certain varieties of hemp.

It would appear that ANSM had aimed too high. In a decision dated June 3, the Agency announced the exclusion of :

• cannabinolic acid or CBNA
• the tetrahydrocannabivarin or THCV and tetrahydrocannabivaric acid or THCVA, provided their respective content does not exceed 0.3%
• and the’tetrahydrocannabinolic acid or THCA subject to compliance with the content stipulated in Article 1 of the Decree of December 30, 2021 (roughly speaking, from our understanding, that the decarboxylated matter does not exceed 0.3% of THC).

Several groups also expressed their astonishment: the Association Française des Producteurs de Cannabinoïdes (AFPC), the Union des Industriels pour la valorisation des extraits de chanvre (UIVEC) and the Union Des Professionnels Du CBD (UPCBD). The latter had announced that it was preparing an appeal to challenge the classification of these molecules as narcotics.