France’s 2-Year MMJ Experiment: All You Need To Know

The country of France is embarking on a two-year medical marijuana experiment. The experiment is seen as a positive development and an exciting step in the right direction by MMJ advocates in the country.

French politicians have been slow to recognize the benefits of medical marijuana, despite the country’s population appearing to be open-minded to the idea of legal MMJ. Advocates for medical marijuana in France are hoping the experiment will pave the way for full MMJ legalization in the country.

Medical Marijuana In France

France has the highest number of marijuana users in Europe. This is despite marijuana being illegal in France and the country having some of the strictest drug laws in Europe.

Medical marijuana has long been advocated for in France, but the country’s politicians have been steadfast in their refusal to legalize MMJ – even while many of their neighbors in the EU have updated their laws and joined the MMJ revolution.

group of people in france
Image by Howard Bouchevereau on Unsplash: France is embarking on a two-year MMJ experiment.

Are There Dispensaries In France?

There are no MMJ dispensaries in France. But there is a high demand for marijuana, both medical and recreational. Surveys have consistently shown that France has the highest number of marijuana users in Europe.

The ban on MMJ means that, unfortunately, people who use marijuana for medicinal purposes in France are all forced to purchase their marijuana on the black market. This involves risk and higher prices.

Is CBD Flower Legal In France?

CBD flower can be sold in France if it contains 0% THC. THC is the psychoactive compound in medical marijuana. If CBD flowers contain any THC at all, they are considered to be an illegal narcotic. Shops that sell CBD products are not allowed to make any claims that it has medicinal or therapeutic benefits.

Why Is France Considering Legalizing Medical Marijuana?

France is considering legalizing medical marijuana because there is strong public support for legal MMJ in the country. Many people realize the benefits of MMJ for treatment of chronic pain and other conditions. Advocates of MMJ in France point to successful medical marijuana legalization in several European countries and in the United States.

France’s 2-Year MMJ Experiment

France’s two-year medical marijuana experiment began in March 2021. It was due to start earlier, but was delayed by the COVID pandemic. The experiment will run until 2023, and is designed to explore how, and if, legal MMJ would work in France.

Who Will Take Part In France’s 2-Year MMJ Experiment?

Three thousand people who suffer from chronic pain conditions that do not respond to other types of pain relief medication will take part in France’s medical marijuana trial.

What Does France’s MMJ Experiment Involve?

France’s MMJ experiment involves the abovementioned chronic pain sufferers being supplied with free medical marijuana in the form of marijuana flower to be vaporized, MMJ oils, and MMJ pills. Different ratios of CBD to THC will be tried. All of the MMJ medication will be supplied by foreign companies, as growing marijuana is illegal in France.

France’s two-year MMJ experiment is not a drug trial designed to explore the risks and benefits of MMJ. Instead, it is an experiment that is meant to discover the real-life effects of a legal MMJ program, such as how MMJ can be prescribed, how patients will react, and how an MMJ distribution system will function.

What Might France’s 2-Year MMJ Experiment Mean For MMJ In France And Worldwide?

What might the results of France’s MMJ experiment mean? If the experiment goes well, the real-life benefits of MMJ are recognized, and the rollout of the program is a success, it seems highly likely that full MMJ legalization in France will eventually be the result.

If France introduces a successful legal MMJ program, this will offer encouragement to other countries that are still on the fence about medical marijuana legalization.

legal medical marijuana in container
Image by Yash Lucid on Pexels: Hopefully, MMJ looks set to be legalized in France.

Legal MMJ Countries In Europe

If France legalizes medical marijuana as a result of its experiment, it will be a major leap forward in the MMJ revolution in Europe. There are currently 21 European countries that have some form of legal medical marijuana:

  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

How To Get A Medical Marijuana Card

If you live in the United States and would benefit from medical marijuana treatment, the best way to get an MMJ card is through the MMJRecs online clinic.

Featured image by Chris Karidis on Unsplash