Thetrial of medical cannabis has finally begun. On Friday, March 26, 2021, the medicinal plant was prescribed for the first time at the Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. That said, how does one get a prescription for medical cannabis in France?
And where should one go? These are two questions many people are asking. Which, in our opinion, is perfectly normal. Because cannabis, its derivatives, their possession, and use are regulated. We therefore aim to provide you with information that may shed light on this subject in this article.
- Table of Contents
- Information on patients, therapeutic indications, and prescriptions
- Focus on products and their suppliers
Product safety
Focus on referral centers Information on patients, therapeutic indications, and prescriptions Let’s not get ahead of ourselves! Indeed, as this is a first in France, you are certainly wondering how many patients are involved, at least initially. CBD.FR has also asked itself this question. In this regard, our research indicates that the medical cannabis trial program in France will involve 3,000 patients over a two-year period. This is a result of hearings conducted by the ANSM (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety) to establish the program’s parameters. It is important to note that to be accepted into the program, patients must have already tried several conventional treatments without success and must not have any contraindications.
Furthermore, no age limit has been specified. However, these patients will not be allowed to drive during the two-year trial period. Why? Because some medications contain THC. Moreover, what about the therapeutic indications? In other words, what diseases/conditions have been selected for this medical cannabis trial in France?
- In fact, a total of five (5) conditions were selected by the scientific committee. These are:
- Painful spasticity associated with central nervous system disorders.
- Certain severe and drug-resistant forms of epilepsy.
- Palliative care situations.
- Certain refractory symptoms in oncology.
Neuropathic pain unresponsive to available treatments.
Furthermore, how will prescriptions work for the patients concerned? Two points are essential in this regard. First, prescriptions must be written by physicians specializing in these conditions. Second, patients with their prescriptions must then collect their cannabis-based products from pharmacies.
What about the suppliers? As we all know, the cultivation of medical cannabis is still prohibited in France. Consequently, the ANSM has selected foreign companies to supply the products necessary for the medical cannabis trial in France. These companies will provide the products free of charge for the duration of the program.A note on product safety: The program’s leaders are ensuring that all products used are safe for patients. In this regard, two batches of medication have already been recalled due to manufacturing defects. The ANSM addressed this issue in a press release dated April 2nd.
“Several incidents have been reported to the ANSM (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety) concerning a quality defect in the Tilray Oral Solution THC10 CBD10. This defect involves a leak at the bottle cap. Medipha, the company that markets this medication for Tilray, is recalling the affected batches, which have been quarantined pending this recall. No bottles have been dispensed to any patients. Physicians and pharmacists participating in the trial have been informed that they must no longer prescribe or dispense the batches affected by the recall. Other available medications allow the trial to continue and ensure that patients’ needs are met.”
Focus on Reference Centers
A list of 200 reference centers located in 170 hospitals has been published to facilitate access for patients participating in this program.
Want to download your copy? Do so below!
Also read:Publication of the decree authorizing the experimentation of medical cannabis in France
