Paris (AFP)
The experimentation with therapeutic cannabis in France, which should concern around 3,000 patients for two years, should start in "September", announced on Wednesday an official of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM).
"The objective is that the experiment can be offered to patients at the start of the 2020 academic year", "in September", explained the deputy director general of the ANSM, Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, during the first hearings of the mission information bulletin on cannabis launched in the National Assembly.
"September is tomorrow, it's very close," she added. Given this deadline, the Medicines Agency therefore plans "rather to use foreign producers" to supply the necessary cannabis, because French law currently prohibits the cultivation of plants containing rates higher than 0.2% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, one of the active ingredients in the plant).
However, "if a national producer is able to meet the criteria (...), he may be selected," said Ms. Ratignier-Carbonneil, adding that discussions are currently underway between the Ministry of Health and that of Agriculture to allow French production. "Our only objective remains the quality of the products which must be made available to patients."
Despite the current ban, InVivo, one of the first French agricultural cooperative groups, has applied to the ANSM to position itself on the market.
At the end of October, the deputies gave the green light to an experiment of cannabis for medical use. It must concern 3,000 patients who suffer from serious illnesses - certain forms of epilepsy, neuropathic pain, side effects of chemotherapy, palliative care or multiple sclerosis.
They will use cannabis in the form of oil or dried flowers: the smoke route has been ruled out because of the harmful effects of combustion on health. They will be prescribed "as a last resort", said Ms. Ratignier-Carbonneil, that is to say if other existing treatments to treat them fail. And affected patients will be able to benefit from cannabis for free, she said.
The experiment must be carried out in several hospitals in France, in particular reference centers for the pathologies concerned.
An initial prescription will be made by a specialist doctor, neurologist or pain doctor in particular. Patients must first obtain supplies from a hospital pharmacy and then be able to renew their treatments at a city pharmacy.
© 2020 AFP