France: doctors, elected representatives and writers call for the legalization of medical cannabis

Yesterday morning in Le Parisien, a forum co-signed by elected representatives, doctors and writers, highlighted France's delay in legislating for therapeutic cannabis. Addressed to the French Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn, who had declared on May 24, 2018. to launch the public debate on cannabis for therapeutic use, the tribune urges him to «move faster».

While the Minister had declared: «There is no reason to exclude, on the pretext that it is cannabis, a molecule that can be interesting for the treatment of certain very incapacitating pains», no change seems to be on the cards. The co-signatories of Le Parisien's article now emphasize the urgency of the situation: «Producing cannabis for therapeutic use in France is no longer an option, but a necessity».

France lags behind

While more and more countries are legalizing the therapeutic or even recreational use of cannabis, France is lagging far behind, in stark contrast to its image as a progressive, liberal country.

The co-signatories deplore the fact that France's cannabis legislation, incapable of renewal, is so penalizing for French patients wishing to treat themselves via alternative methods. They refer to a «minority of refuseniks» who are blind to the recent studies on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis.

This delay is all the more significant given that society already seems ready to embrace medical cannabis. According to a IFOP survey published in June in Terra Nova, 82% of those polled were in favor of legalization, 73% thought that the state had a duty to conduct studies on the issue, and 62% thought that medical cannabis should be accessible in all its forms and reimbursed by social security.

An economic windfall

The co-signatories also note that where legalization has been implemented and supervised by the State, the medical cannabis scene is a source of socio-economic development. In their view, it would be irresponsible to deprive France of this in the name of a culture of taboo, especially as the lack of legal certainty and supervision on the issue of CBD has already deprived the government of the profits linked to its trade, to the benefit of private initiatives.

In addition to the injustice done to patients, they also denounce the injustice done to hemp growers, who risk prosecution and the destruction of their crop if it does not comply with the limits set by the State. Finally, they call on the Minister to accept the specific plan to revitalize the Creuse department which would have the dual advantage of serving as a laboratory for the legalization of medical cannabis in France, and revitalizing an area in difficulty.