France Advances Medical Cannabis Legalization Framework

LOS ANGELES- France has officially submitted draft regulations to the European Commission, outlining the framework for the production and authorization of medical cannabis.

The submission includes:

• A decree establishing the framework for cannabis-based medicines, integrating them into existing provisions related to pharmacovigilance, manufacturing, and distribution.

• A ministerial order detailing the specifications of cannabis-based medicines and their therapeutic indications.

• A ministerial order specifying technical conditions for the possession, cultivation, import, export, transport, and storage of cannabis plants for medical purposes within French territory.

This notification initiates a three-month standstill period, during which the European Commission and member states can review and comment on the proposed texts.

The French Health Ministry has characterized this development as a significant step toward providing supervised and secure access to medical cannabis.

France’s move aligns with a broader European trend of reevaluating cannabis policies. While no national government in Europe supports the legalization of cannabis for recreational use, several countries have implemented decriminalization and harm reduction policies.

The outcome of this regulatory process will be closely monitored by stakeholders in the medical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sectors, as it may influence future developments in medical cannabis policies both within France and across the European Union.