France extends experimental access to medical cannabis until 2027

Patients currently benefiting from medical marijuana in the French experiment have been granted a temporary reprieve. The French Minister of Health, Stéphanie Rist, signed the accompanying letter guaranteeing continued access to treatment, potentially until the first quarter of 2010. 2027, in anticipation of the widespread use of medical cannabis.

Initial coverage was due to expire at the end of March 2026, raising fears that patients would suddenly lose access to their treatments.

Fewer than 700 patients are still being treated under the national program

French experimentation with medical cannabis has officially come to an end, but a small group of patients continue to benefit from treatment thanks to special dispensations. According to our information, just under 700 patients still receive medical cannabis under this program.

This population represents only a fraction of the approximately 3,200 patients who participated in the pilot phase between 2021 and 2024.

The pilot program itself was launched under section 43 of the Social Security Financing Act (LFSS) for 2020, The aim was to assess whether France could safely prescribe and distribute cannabis-derived medicines through pharmacies. The ANSM concluded that initial data confirmed the viability of the system.

«Data collected during the first two years of the pilot program have demonstrated the existence of a safe and operational distribution system, We have been impressed by the efficacy of cannabis for the indications covered by the pilot program, which has been maintained over several months in some patients, as well as by a safety profile that is in line with expectations and reassuring, with few serious adverse effects,» said the agency.

A fragile timetable begins to take shape

While France lags far behind compared with its European neighbors, A more precise timetable is beginning to take shape. Visit Social Security Department (DSS) and the Direction générale de la santé (DGS) have agreed on a draft decree that could pave the way for nationwide deployment.

After consultation with manufacturers, patient associations and pharmacists, the DSS and DGS are expected to submit the text to the European Parliament. French Council of State by the end of the June 2026. If adopted, this decree would establish the legal basis for the widespread use of cannabinoid-based medicines in France.

Political uncertainty and a lack of support from the health authorities remain a major obstacle.

HAS decision expected end 2026

Even if the decree is adopted, the next step is to will depend on the French National Authority for Health (HAS). The HAS is due to issue a final opinion assessing the suitability of medical cannabis for certain serious conditions, including cancer, theepilepsy and chronic pain resistant to conventional treatments.

If the schedule is adhered to, this final assessment is expected in october or november 2026, and will also determine whether reimbursement will be granted under the French national health insurance system.

The widespread use of medical cannabis in France remains subject to a number of regulatory measures that have yet to be published. These include a decree on cannabis-based medicines, a ministerial order setting product specifications, and a Conseil d'Etat order defining assessment and reimbursement procedures.

If the decrees were not published before the summer, there would be little chance of medical cannabis seeing the light of day in France before the presidential elections, postponing the next advances until 2028. Otherwise, the first prescriptions could be issued as early as 2027 and could eventually be applied to current indications about 400,000 patients all over the country.