H4CBD, THCP, HHCPO soon to be banned in France?

At the latest Psychotropics, Narcotics and Addiction Committee meeting, chaired by ANSM and whose minutes have just been made public, CSP members examined some of the synthetic cannabinoids currently sold in France: H2CBD, H4CBD, THCP and HHCPO.

Some of these cannabinoids have in fact «appeared in addictovigilance data», meaning that they have induced incidents requiring hospital care due to bad trips or other powerful side effects, such as those produced by H4CBD candies.

The Committee was keen to point out that :

• some of these substances pose a theoretical risk from the production of ketenes when the acetic esters (HHCO, HHCPO, THCO) of these products are consumed by vapers, as we wrote last November
• for neo-cannabinoids, the health risks «cannot be lower than those of products containing THC».»
• products containing them are not always clearly identified on packaging or to buyers

The ANSM moderator also reiterated that «the classification of substances on the list of narcotics has above all a Public Health objective aimed at protecting users from the clearly identified harmful effects associated with the consumption of these new substances».

Following a presentation of the situation and the arguments of certain members, the PSC declared itself in favour of classifying the following cannabinoids as narcotics:

• HHCPO = HHCP acetate = hexahydrocannabiphorol-O
• THCP = tetrahydrocannabiphorol
• H4-CBD (CBD derivative)
• H2-CBD (CBD derivative)
• THCA

The Committee also undertook to study the possibility of classifying the cannabinol (CBN).

The committees' opinions are then studied by the ANSM, which will decide whether or not to classify these molecules as narcotics, thus prohibiting their production, sale and consumption on French soil.

In June 2023, the’ANSM had already classified HHC, HHCO and HHCP on the list of narcotics. The aforementioned «new» neo-cannabinoids quickly found their way onto the market to replace HHC.