France: towards an authorized use of therapeutic cannabis – LINFO.re



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An expert committee appointed by the government has considered it relevant to authorize therapeutic cannabis in France.

A positive opinion

Several countries in the world are already using the therapeutic cannabis including 21 in the European Union as well as Switzerland, Norway, Israel and Turkey, according to the Journal du Québec. The French who need this treatment are then forced to go to the illegal market or to go to Switzerland, the neighboring country.

The committee of experts appointed by the government recently gave a positive opinion on " the use of therapeutic cannabis in certain clinical situations and in cases of insufficient pain relief " in France. The diseases concerned are certain forms of epilepsies, cancers, palliative situations and muscular diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Procedures to follow

After this first step, theDrug Agency will have to give his opinion. The use of therapeutic cannabis must be endorsed by leaders and elected officials. From a medical point of view, Professor Nicolas Authier, President of the Scientific Committee stressed the need to regulate the placing on the market and the follow-up of the patients. He qualified the cannabis as a complementary treatment and not in first intention. With all these steps then, the use of medical cannabis would only be effective after 2020, he said, according to AFP.

Make in-depth studies

Different research should be carried out by health specialists to badess the benefits, risks, adverse effects of cannabis. The routes of administration must also be the subject of a study excluding from the beginning smoking considered carcinogenic and favoring sprays, inhalation, capsules, drops, suppositories, oils, sublingual route, patch.

Commercialization

The cannabis medications as Sativex or Marinol are the only ones allowed in France with a price too high for the first and temporary authorization for the second. Given the very limited accessibility of these products, marketing will also be the subject of a study.

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