French Polynesia examines its plan to legalize medical cannabis

The Health Committee of the Assembly of French Polynesia is set to meet very soon to review the bill to legalize medical cannabis in French Polynesia

The bill, which you can view here, provides for a revision of the 1978 regulations on “the importation, exportation, purchase, sale, possession, and use of toxic substances”.

Currently, the policy is one of a general ban on all use of cannabis or its derivatives in the fenua, with the sole exception being for research purposes

“A revision of the regulations is necessary”, as stated in the preamble to the explanatory memorandum for the bill, which cites, in particular, the “advances in medical research” or the recognition of the “therapeutic potential of cannabis” by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs in December 2020.

The text therefore calls for amending the current regulations in order to be able to “to authorize the therapeutic use of cannabis in the form of a medication that must comply with the regulations governing medications currently in effect in French Polynesia”, but also “to authorize the agricultural production of cannabis and hemp for industrial purposes, particularly for pharmaceutical use, under strict control and within a regulatory framework consistent with the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs”.

Legally, the principle remains that of a “a general ban on all activities related to cannabis”, but with exceptions provided for by law and subject to an authorization system for medical cannabis and hemp, from the in the same way as in mainland France.

For hemp—defined as a plant containing less than 0.3% of THC—cultivation in Polynesia will be “authorized” and intended for any non-medical product containing no more than 0.3% of THC (food products made from the seeds and wellness products). The text already provides for the possibility of increasing the THC content of plants in the field to up to 1% of THC.

The cultivation of cannabis containing more than 0.3% of THC will be reserved exclusively for “Manufacture of medications in accordance with local regulations and massage products for therapeutic use” and the export of medical cannabis.

Local patient organizations have been calling for this for many years The regulation of medical cannabis in Polynesia. In a video posted on Facebook, Philippe Cathelain, from the Polynesian Hemp Union and Karl Anihia, president of the association Tahiti Herb Culture (THC), express their satisfaction with this first step toward regulation.

«This is very satisfying; it’s the culmination of a project we’ve been advocating for over the past two years, ever since we began discussions with the Ministry of Health. But above all, it addresses an urgent need among a segment of our population that wants access to cannabis-based medications for various medical conditions.»