Therapeutic cannabis

Verified 14 September 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Medical cannabis: end of experimentation and transition period

The trial of the medical use of cannabis, launched in March 2021, ended on December 31, 2024.

To ensure the continuity of the treatment of patients treated during the experiment and still under treatment, a transition period was initiated. Originally set until 31 March 2026, this period is extended until 3 months after the (forthcoming) publication of the Commission's opinion. HAS: titleContent on his website.

This extension aims to avoid any interruption of treatment for patients still being treated in this transitional setting, pending the establishment of a framework.

Since March 27, 2024, no new patients can enter the experiment. Only patients included in the trial before this date can continue to benefit from prescriptions and dispensing of cannabis-based medicines.

Do you want to know if the medical use of cannabis in the form of medicines can be authorized? Yes, this authorization shall be on an experimental basis and shall be valid at the latest until December 31, 2024. We are talking about therapeutic cannabis. The patient is informed of the special precautions for the use of these drugs, these adverse effects and contraindications. We present you the information to know.

The use of cannabis is permitted in the following situations:

  • Neuropathic pain refractory to accessible therapies (drug or non-drug)
  • Some forms of drug-resistant epilepsy
  • Some rebellious symptoms in oncology related to cancer or anti-cancer treatment
  • Palliative situations
  • Painful spasticity of multiple sclerosis or other diseases of the central nervous system.

Medicines containing cannabis are prescribed in case of:

  • Insufficient relief
  • Or poor tolerance of accessible therapies, whether or not they are medicinal.

Your consent is required.

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You are followed within a structure selected for this experiment

You can express within this structure your wish to participate in this experiment.

This structure can also offer it.

Other case

You can discuss this with your attending physician so that he can address you to one of these structures.

Find a structure involved in the experimentation of therapeutic cannabis

Please note

The final decision comes back exclusively to the doctor of the structure selected for this experiment.

Cannabis-based medicines can be prescribed in 2 pharmaceutical forms:

  • Inhalation by spraying (dried flowers)
  • Oral (oil, tablet containing THC and CBD)

These 2 pharmaceutical forms contain THC and CBD.

Cannabis for smoking is excluded from the protocol.

Reminder

The use of drugs behind the wheel shall be punished.

In case of agreement, a prescription is issued for a prescription up to 28 days by healthcare professionals in the facilities selected for this experiment.

Subsequently, the prescription can be issued by the doctor you have chosen, subject to his agreement and training beforehand.

Once this prescription is issued, you present it:

  • Either in the pharmacy of the reference structure where your inclusion took place
  • Either in the city pharmacy you have chosen, subject to its agreement and the prior training of several of its pharmacists.

The 1era dispensing can be carried out by the city pharmacy you have designated.

The prescription must be renewed no more than every 28 days.

These drugs are covered by the Health Insurance.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For further information

    National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM)

    By phone

    01 55 87 30 00

    From 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday.

    By email

    https://ansm.sante.fr/page/formulaire-medicaments

    You can specify that your application concerns medical cannabis.

    By post

    ANSM - Site de Saint Denis

    143/147, boulevard Anatole France

    93285 SAINT-DENIS CEDEX