The medical farm operates the first THC-free cannabis field in Gironde -
La ferme Médicale
The Court of Justice of the European Union emphasizes that the CBD molecule present in cannabis, has "no psychotropic effect or harmful effect on human health".
A few months ago, two young Bordeaux residents launched La Ferme Médicale, a wellness cannabis field in the south of the Gironde, with a view to marketing CBD-based products.
Their oils and ointment should therefore very soon be able to be sold in pharmacies.
Raphaël De Pablo and Pierre Morel are inundated with calls on this Thursday morning.
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled illegal this Thursday, the ban in France on the marketing of cannabidiol (CBD), stressing that this molecule present in hemp (or cannabis sativa) has "no 'psychotropic effect or harmful effect on human health'.
However, these two Bordelais are precisely among the very few growers to have taken the risk of having embarked on the cultivation of wellness cannabis in France, the name for this type of culture aimed at marketing CBD-based products. .
They had started a farm in December 2019 on 1.4 hectares in the south of the department, and had just completed their very first harvest, last September.
After this experimental phase, the goal is to increase to 11.4 hectares next year.
Two years in Canada "closely studying medical cannabis"
Without this decision of the European Court, they would have had to sell the products of their production elsewhere than in France.
“There, everything will be able to remain on the national territory, rejoices Raphaël De Pablo, and we have in particular a lot of pharmacists who call us to inquire about the marketing.
Above all, we can assume that this decision will decide a lot of competitors to launch in 2021, we are a little ahead of them.
"
To date, there are only three fields of the same type in France, two of which are in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the other being in the Creuse.
The two Bordelais have been working on their project, called La Ferme Médicale, for three years.
Raphaël De Pablo notably spent two years in Canada where he “closely studied therapeutic cannabis.
"
300 kg of flowers during the first harvest in September
The difference between their cultivation, and a traditional hemp field, lies in the type of plant being exploited.
“There is an official catalog of seeds authorized for hemp, explains Raphaël De Pablo, in France there are 25 varieties, but only one allows us to do what we do today.
To summarize, the two farmers remove the male plants as they grow, leaving only the females, which give the flower, unlike traditional hemp trees which work with seeds and fiber.
“We don't want any seeds on our farm, which allows us to have a higher level of CBD, it's very different.
In September, they were able to harvest 300 kg of flowers.
The culture is then taken to a certified organic extraction laboratory in Germany, to extract the CBD molecule as well as the other molecules.
“This gives a concentrate of the CBD molecule.
"On arrival, La Ferme Médicale will offer oil, and ointment from 2021," which will be applied to inflammations and irritations.
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"Products to improve sleep, relieve pain"
“A little bit ahead of the decision of the European Court, we have already started marketing the products on KissKissBankBank, which ends on December 3, then our website will take over, and we have around ten pharmacies interested.
Typically, these are products that are used to reduce anxiety, improve sleep or relieve pain.
But we are not yet within the framework of therapeutic cannabis.
"
The other issue for the two young farmers will also be to secure the site, which was the subject of a theft of several hundred feet at the end of September.
The six suspects were arrested the next day.
Security guards will be employed
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