The government will not propose the legalization of medical cannabis in 2024 in France

According to our information, the legalization of medical cannabis by 2024 will not be supported by the Macron government. The future Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) will not include a budget line for the generalization of medical cannabis, the dispensation of which is currently limited to some 2,000 participants in the therapeutic cannabis experiment.

When questioned about the reasons for this absence, the Direction Générale de la Santé has not yet replied. Other sources simply point to opposition from Mildeca and the Ministry of the Interior.

Franck Milone, founder of medical cannabis producer LaFleur, In response to our questions, the association was able to confide that they had «been working with the authorities over the last few months to participate in the various working groups aimed at integrating medical cannabis into common law. The legislative texts are ready, and patients and healthcare professionals are waiting for a clear framework, allowing secure access to medical cannabis. The situation is critical for patients, many of whom were already affected last year by product shortages. The government needs to get more involved in this public health issue! France should not be a sub-market.»

For Mado Gilanton, President of the Apaiser S&C association, «this is a political decision. The people who made the decision have not been able to read the various reports on the experiment, nor have they been confronted with the positive feedback from patients and their extremely difficult situation when products run out. After 5 years» work and extremely positive feedback, this is incomprehensible. There may be some amendments to allow compassionate access for those who can afford it, but this is very disappointing for the people involved and the patients."

Pr Nicolas Authier also points the finger at the opposition: «After five years of serious work on this issue, opposing forces are awakening, with their trail of fantasies and irrational language worthy of the platists. They are going to do everything in their power to restrict access to these drugs, even though they are intended for patients who have reached a therapeutic impasse and are suffering severely. We have to be convincing in the coming weeks, and counter their ideology with the relevance and rigor of the approach adopted during these 5 years of work and experimentation».»

According to Frantz Deschamps, President of Health France Cannabis, The discussions surrounding the PLFSS were crucial for the sector and for patients. Our main fear is that there will be an extension or entry into common law, with a status that does not offer real accessibility to patients. The DGS has done a great deal of work on ad hoc status for these drugs and for patients in therapeutic impasse. Contrary to what some may say, the French industry is ready to supply its first batches to patients. Today, the battle remains to bring these drugs within the scope of common law and make them genuinely accessible.«

According to Frédéric Prat, President of Principes Actifs: «After five years, our experience with medical cannabis in France has given us some undeniable facts: a glimmer of hope for 70% patients in therapeutic limbo. Their quality of life has improved significantly, and their suffering has been reduced or completely eliminated. The mere fact that individuals are enduring unnecessary pain, all in the name of purely political considerations, is unbearable. Including the legalization of medical cannabis in the PLFSS 2024 represents the best and only way forward to ensure access to this beneficial new therapy for our patients.»

Pascal Douek, a doctor and patient included in the experiment since April 2021, also dismisses the decision. «I can only be worried by the government's inertia. What's at stake is not only the 2,000 patients who are part of the experiment, but also and above all the tens of thousands of chronically ill patients who are waiting for relief. It is incomprehensible that the excellent results of the trial are not being taken into account for wider access to medical cannabis.»

What chance is there for medical cannabis in France?

Inclusion of the generalization of medical cannabis in the PLFSS 2024 was the royal road out of experimentation and result in a delivery for patients suffering from at least one of the 5 eligible pathologies (epilepsy, oncology, neuropathic pain, palliative care and painful spasticity).

The legalization of medical cannabis could still be proposed by amendment during debates on the PLFSS, as Prof. Nicolas Authier confirms: «In the absence of arbitration, there will therefore be a minimum government amendment to make it part of common law - as it seems to be accepted that the experiment will end in March 2024 - or even a cross-party amendment in preparation with Caroline Janvier, as a counter-proposal if the first does not seem appropriate and, above all, too restrictive.»

What does the future hold for medical cannabis trials?

There are two possible scenarios here.

The experiment could be extended to continue supporting current patients and providing them with the medication they need. In this case, it would not be able to incorporate more sick people.

It could also end with no access to cannabis-based medicines for patients, unless a solution is found via amendments.