Contents
Market Overview
After several years of extending a small-scale medical cannabis trial, with limited engagement from regulators, France has now taken decisive steps towards establishing a permanent medical cannabis framework integrated into its national healthcare system.
The government’s new legislative framework will not only embed medical cannabis as a recognised treatment pathway within the healthcare infrastructure but also create the foundation for a domestic cultivation and manufacturing industry.
The new system is expected to be fully operational by April 2026, as the Minister of Health confirmed that the 1,600 patients currently enrolled in the trial will maintain uninterrupted access to treatment until that date. Once implemented, they will transition into the national programme.
Implementation of the new framework hinges on the signing of three decrees, which have already been submitted to the European Union for review. Once ratified at both the EU and ministerial levels—a process considered largely procedural—the pathway to rollout will be clear.
Notably, granulated flower products may be included under the new system, marking a shift from the later stages of the pilot, where only extracts were authorised.
Regulatory Framework
In March 2025, France notified the European Commission of its intent to legalise the authorisation, production, and prescription of medical cannabis. This initiated the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS) procedure, which allows the EU to review and comment on new technical regulations before national adoption.
Once the European Commission has approved the measure, the French High Health Authority (HAS) will define the public reimbursement model for medical cannabis—a key step toward integrating it into the country’s social health insurance system.
Under the proposed framework:
- Both extracts and granulated flower products may be authorised.
- Patients will be strictly prohibited from smoking; consumption must occur through CE-certified dry herb vaporisers.
- Products will receive authorisation under a Temporary Use Authorisation (ATU) process, overseen by the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM).
The ANSM will validate prescriptions for five-year periods, with renewal applications possible nine months before expiry. The agency will have 210 days to assess applications and will publish all decisions—approvals, refusals, and suspensions—on its website for transparency.
Domestic cultivation will also be permitted but tightly controlled:
All production must be dedicated exclusively to the medical cannabis supply chain.tages.
Only indoor cultivation will be allowed (no greenhouse or outdoor grows).
Cultivators must hold binding supply contracts with authorised entities before planting.
PARIS 2026
FRANCE’S MEDICAL
CANNABIS FUTURE
📍 CANNABIS EUROPA PARIS | 19 FEBRUARY 2026
Join Europe’s leading policymakers, clinicians, and industry leaders as France transitions from pilot to permanent national medical cannabis program. As France prepares for its historic April 2026 rollout, this is the event shaping Europe’s most anticipated market.
250+
Attendees
30+
Speakers
15+
Panels
1 DAY
Of Insights
Policy Deep-Dive
Reimbursement frameworks, regulatory clarity, workforce integration
Market Intelligence
Domestic production at scale, EU GMP standards, supply chains
Clinical Evidence
Real-world data from Canada, lessons from Switzerland & Luxembourg
Network & Connect
Meet European healthcare leaders, investors, regulatory experts
Patient Access
Who Can Prescribe?
Only trained and certified physicians will be authorised to prescribe medical cannabis under the new framework. Training programmes will be established in collaboration with the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) to standardise clinical knowledge and prescribing protocols.
As of early 2025, 274 specialists have completed certification under the pilot programme.
Approved Indications:
The eligible conditions largely mirror those tested during the pilot phase:
- Neuropathic pain
- Drug-resistant epilepsy
- Spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or other central nervous system disorders
- Side effects of chemotherapy (nausea, vomiting, appetite loss)
- Palliative care for unrelieved symptoms
As in the pilot, cannabis will remain a treatment of last resort. Physicians must demonstrate that standard therapies have either failed or produced intolerable side effects before prescribing.
Reimbursement:
The HAS has yet to finalise the reimbursement framework under France’s public health insurance. Reimbursement eligibility will likely depend on indication, product type, and demonstrated therapeutic efficacy during the pilot phase.
Industry Landscape
France’s transition from pilot to permanent medical cannabis access represents a major regulatory milestone for Western Europe. The forthcoming system is expected to support the development of domestic pharmaceutical-grade cultivation, extraction, and manufacturing facilities, aligning with EU-GMP standards.
Several French and international firms have already positioned themselves for market entry, establishing strategic partnerships with research hospitals and pharmaceutical distributors in anticipation of commercialisation.
Although France’s model remains cautious, the introduction of national reimbursement and domestically produced products could make it one of Europe’s most clinically integrated medical cannabis systems once operational.
Outlook
France’s move toward a regulated medical cannabis framework marks the end of the country’s prolonged experimental phase and the beginning of formal market establishment. While the system will be highly regulated, the inclusion of flower products, creation of domestic cultivation, and integration within public healthcare signify a turning point in European medical cannabis policy.
If implemented as planned, France will emerge as a significant domestic market by 2026, with strong foundations for pharmaceutical research, clinical integration, and long-term scalability.
