A request to experiment with medical cannabis in Polynesia

Polynesian MP Nicole Sanquer has tabled a bill to authorize experimentation with medical cannabis in the archipelago.

His proposal follows the broad lines of the experiment currently underway in mainland France, i.e. a two-year trial with a limited number of patients and for pre-defined indications, before opening up to wider legalization of the medical use of cannabis.

And Nicole Sanquer explains: «There are a lot of patients who are waiting, because let's not kid ourselves, there are a lot of people who treat themselves with cannabis oils or balsam.»

The Polynesian project should win unanimous approval. The opening up to medical cannabis was in fact in the Cap 2025 recovery plan of the local government and the President of French Polynesia announced at the beginning of April of its intention «to open up the possibility of growing cannabis for therapeutic use» on its territory.

Moetai Brotherson, a member of parliament also questioned Health Minister Olivier Véran to allow Polynesia to take part in this experiment. Yes, «in principle», replied the Minister, pointing out that health is a Polynesian government responsibility.

Once the bill has been passed, the conditions for implementing the experiment will be the subject of a draft resolution by the Polynesian Assembly to conclude the legislative part. It will then be submitted to the «Council of Ministers« for the regulatory part, including a modification of the deliberation on poisonous substances, an agreement with the Agence Nationale de Sécurité du Médicament and the approval of a »medical reference center", before determining the number of Polynesian patients who could be included in the study.

6 months before the end of the experiment, the Polynesian government would be asked to draw up an initial assessment and study a more permanent system for therapeutic cannabis.