Ludovic Mendès calls for a united front on the CBD issue

Ludovic Mendès, an LREM lawmaker and rapporteur for the Fact-Finding Mission (MI) on CBD and wellness hemp, took the opportunity yesterday during the press conference on the release of the report on recreational cannabis to provide an update on the «CBD» issue.

As a reminder, the MI has published its progress report on wellness hemp from last February, outlining recommendations for the regulation of CBD-focused hemp in France. This report followed the CJEU ruling against France in the Kanavape case, which enshrined the free movement of goods in Europe and confirmed the The legality of CBD. France is therefore forced to change course and amend the 1990 decree, which the French authorities interpret as restricting the use of hemp flowers in France, even though they can be imported from other European countries and sold legally within France.

Although MILDECA has begun working on the revision of the 1990 ordinance early this year, Ludovic Mendès confirmed that he has not received any updates on the progress of the interministerial task force examining MILDECA’s proposals. He also attributes this delay and lack of transparency to the «turf war between unions and lobbies,» which is proving to be more counterproductive than anything else.

Interchanvre / UIVEC is not known for promoting the full use of the flower; its work covers only production and extraction, whereas the Hemp Union advocates for comprehensive regulation benefiting as many stakeholders as possible—ambitions that may clash with the limitations of previous approaches.

In his view, as long as these groups cannot agree, the CBD industry will not be able to take off in France. Michèle Victory, a Socialist member of Parliament from Ardèche and vice-president of the MI, emphasized that French regions are waiting and cannot meet a demand that ultimately relies on foreign suppliers.