Can medical cannabis be grown in France?

With Eric Correia's plans to transform the department of Creuse in a therapeutic cannabis laboratory, the question is: can medical cannabis already be grown in France? As is often the case, the answer is: yes, but it's complicated.

No self-cultivation for patients

The Medical cannabis has been legal in France since 2013 in the form of medicines. The latter must receive Marketing Authorization (MA) before they can be dispensed to patients on the basis of a prescription from their doctor.

As such, French patients are currently prohibited from growing their own medical cannabis. In the event of self-cultivation, they are liable to the same penalties as everyone else, since their status as patients does not protect them from French law.

Cultivation of medical cannabis authorized for...

On the other hand, French law, in its article R5132-86, authorizes the cultivation of medical cannabis in two cases:

• if the cannabis is to be processed for a medicinal product with marketing authorization in France
• if it is intended for the production of a drug with European marketing authorization

The legal framework thus potentially already authorizes GW Pharmaceuticals to produce cannabis in France for its Sativex. For Mamie Cookie, however, we'll have to wait a little longer! And for the Creuse region, a special dispensation will be needed to experiment with the cultivation of medical cannabis.