UFCM I Care 2016: the use of cannabinoids in medicine

The Francophone Union for Cannabinoids in Medicine is organizing the 5th (and only) international French conference on therapeutic cannabis on October 21st in Strasbourg. The free event, open to all, will take place from 9 AM to 5 PM at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Strasbourg.

The UFCM is a French association founded by Bertrand Rambaud, a patient and activist, whose aim is to promote and disseminate information on the use of hemp and its derivatives as medical treatments.

The event is also an opportunity to encourage exchanges between healthcare professionals and patients, and to promote cannabinoid research in French-speaking countries more generally.

The October 21st conference hosts European leaders in the field, such as:

• Dr. Ethan Russo, researcher in psychopharmacology and neurology, and medical advisor during Sativex phase 3 trials, who will speak on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, as opposed to synthetic cannabinoids
• Carola Perez, president of the Spanish Observatory of Medical Cannabis, who will discuss the importance of the advances that still need to be made in terms of legislation
• Dr. Franjo Grotenhermen, president of the International Association for Cannabinoids in Medicine, who will give a detailed report on the main applications of the plant (post-traumatic stress disorder, hyperactivity, bipolar disorder, etc.). He will also delve into the future therapeutic cannabis program expected to launch in Germany in Spring 2017.
• Professor Renaud Colson, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law in Nantes, who will focus on the importance of recognizing patients' right to use medical cannabis

France remains one of the most closed-off countries in Europe regarding the therapeutic use of cannabis. Therefore, an initiative like UFCM I Care is a welcome sight, both for patients who often lack information on the subject, and for the quality of the invited speakers.