Legal & Regulatory

The ANSM approves medical cannabis in France

On Jan. 28, the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) issued a press release outlining details for the medical cannabis trials in France. Suppliers who want to apply for distribution will have to present their plans on how they plan on growing cannabis, while health professionals will have to undergo mandatory training for prescribing cannabis.

On Oct. 25, 2019, France’s National Assembly voted in favor of trials for medical cannabis. Although the dates and duration are set, the conditions necessary for approving medical cannabis in France remain unclear.

On Jan. 28, the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) issued a press release explaining that this has finally been determined.

The experts at the Temporary Scientific Committee (TSC) explained that the Implementation of medical cannabis in France relies on the training of health professionals, the specifications of the products that will be used, and the conditions for monitoring patients.

Hemp.im is a mobile application that is exclusively dedicated to hemp and cannabis news as well as the very latest news about the general hemp and cannabis industry. The app provides you with the most current and up-to-date news on the hemp and cannabis industry and covers wide-ranging topics including hemp and cannabis stocks.

Controlling medical cannabis in France

Suppliers who want to apply for distributing medical cannabis in France will have to present their plans on how they plan on growing cannabis (cultivation method, selection method, compliance with good agricultural practices, THC/CBD content, etc.) and specifications on their finished products.

In particular, the analytical procedures of the control methods and the results of these controls must be provided.

Patient follow-ups will be carried out through an “electronic register,” which will include various modules to assess its patients such as scheduling an appointment, and how easy it is to find a pharmacy that carries medical cannabis in France.

Patients will need to have a medical prescription to access the cannabis trial in France. (Source)

The ANSM adds that the registry will also make it possible to collect data on the dosages dispensed, efficacy, adverse effects and its impact on the patients’ quality of life. Both pharmacists and patients will have access to this information.

Pharmacists will need special training for handling cannabis prescriptions

As for health professionals, they will have to have undergo mandatory dedicated training before they can prescribe medical cannabis in France. The validation of this online training, which lasts over three hours, will be a mandatory condition for doctors and pharmacists to be registered in the experimental patient monitoring register.

The ANSM guarantees “the independence of health professionals vis-à-vis the laboratories supplying the products and the control of the messages delivered.

As outlined in the narcotics regulations, medical cannabis in France and its derivatives will be prescribed on a “secure prescription” and stored in locked containers.

The Agency specifies that the treatment may only be initiated by doctors working in voluntary referral structures, taking charge of the indications selected by the CST and approved by the ANSM.

However, once the patient has been entered into the system, the renewal of prescriptions may be carried out by any doctor in town.

Pharmacist’s advice on medical cannabis in France

Pharmacists will have to undergo a mandatory three-hour training session before prescribing cannabis to patients. (Source)

As with all narcotic and psychotropic substances, cannabis will also be subject to an import permit issued by the ANSM.

The supply of French pharmacies during the experiment of medical cannabis in France will include the compulsory administrative procedures for narcotics. Distributors are limited in number and are all located in France.

“City and hospital pharmacists, in addition to ordering and dispensing medical cannabis, will have an advisory role with patients,” said the ANSM.

They will also have to fill in the register at the time of dispensing, which will make it possible to follow the path of patients and name any adverse effects that may appear during treatment.

__

(Featured image by Pexels via Pixabay)

DISCLAIMER: This article was written by a third party contributor and does not reflect the opinion of Hemp.im, its management, staff or its associates. Please review our disclaimer for more information.

This article may include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “become,” “plan,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks as well as uncertainties, including those discussed in the following cautionary statements and elsewhere in this article and on this site. Although the Company may believe that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, the actual results that the Company may achieve may differ materially from any forward-looking statements, which reflect the opinions of the management of the Company only as of the date hereof. Additionally, please make sure to read these important disclosures.

First published in Doctissimo Santé, a third-party contributor translated and adapted the article from the original. In case of discrepancy, the original will prevail.

Although we made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translations, some parts may be incorrect. Hemp.im assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions or ambiguities in the translations provided on this website. Any person or entity relying on translated content does so at their own risk. Hemp.im is not responsible for losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy or reliability of translated information. If you wish to report an error or inaccuracy in the translation, we encourage you to contact us.

Anne Kings

Anne Kings is a reporter for the financial sector, often tackling Wall Street and shareholders' interests. She also covers the intersection of media and technology, and delves into interesting topics on entertainment. Sometimes she also writes about the cannabis industry, in particular CBD and hemp. She is currently based in New York.

Recent Posts

Women Represent 61% of Home Cannabis Growers in the U.S.

A survey found that women comprise 61% of home cannabis growers, marking a diversion from…

9 hours ago

Denmark Proposes Making Its Medical Cannabis Program Permanent

Denmark plans to make its pilot medical cannabis program permanent following its success in treating…

1 day ago

Polish Lawmakers Petition Donald Tusk for Cannabis Decriminalization

Polish lawmakers have submitted a non-binding petition to Prime Minister Donald Tusk, urging cannabis decriminalization…

1 week ago

The UK Medical Cannabis Market: Growth, Diversification, and Opportunities

The UK medical cannabis market has rapidly grown since legalization in 2018, with private actors…

1 week ago

Alcohol & Cannabis: 60% of Cannabis Users Say It Helps Them Drink Less

A new study involving over 23,000 participants in New Zealand found that 60% of people…

1 week ago

French Interior and Justice Ministers Announce Measures to Combat Organized Crime

The French Ministers of the Interior and Justice announced a comprehensive plan to tackle organized…

2 weeks ago