France’s medical cannabis trial sparks market battle

Tensions are rising between European companies, Canadian firms and French producers as France prepares to allow imports of cannabis-based medical treatments on a trial basis later this year.

Connexion journalist

Published Tuesday 10 March 2020 - 08:43 Modified Tuesday 10 March 2020 - 08:43

The trial is set to last two years from September, with more than 3,000 patients in France expected to be the first to receive the new drugs.

Drug safety agency ANSM confirmed that it would be open to authorising “foreign products”, and said that it had already “auditioned” seven companies last year.

Several Canadian companies are already seeking to enter the market, along with Dutch firm Bedrocan and British group Emmac Life Sciences.

Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France

MEPs vote to adapt hand luggage rules: flights to and from France affected

Travellers should have right to personal bag as well as one piece of carry-on luggage weighing up to 7kg

Four departments put on orange heatwave alert

Hot weather warnings look set to increase over the coming days

City in Brittany becomes first to limit the size of swimming pools in France

Pools will be limited to 25m3 in size, 15m3 smaller than the average size in France

Survey asks Britons in France to share post-Brexit experiences

Online poll - which is open until July 11 - looks at their residency status and associated rights five years after transition period

Comment: Low-emissions vote reveals long-standing divisions in France

Columnist Nabila Ramdani notes that the ongoing fight against pollution reflects class and politics

Bordeaux's iconic lamprey dish faces extinction

A court ban on lamprey fishing threatens the future of a historic French delicacy

Hiker airlifted to hospital after being attacked by cow in Pyrénées

Man was gored by cow’s horn and taken to hospital in Spain

First legal battles over 2021 French inheritance rules begin

Hundreds of readers - especially Britons and Americans - report stress over effects of the law, which many experts say clashes with EU rules

Recipe: grilled wild garlic mussels

A rich, tasty way to serve mussels, this offers a great contrast of textures between the crunchy crumb crust and the juicy mussel flesh below

Protesting taxi drivers threaten to block Paris airports

Strike action poised to continue as drivers and government fail to find solution over hospital transport fees

IRS will no longer accept or issue paper checks: Americans in France affected

Tax payments and refunds must now be made digitally

Violent storms hit France and set to sweep across much of country

5cm hail and 100 km/h gales expected after highs of up to 40C

Learning French: what does fou rire mean and when should it be used?

A funny phrase for when you cannot suppress your laughter

Strict ‘family visa’ rules for couples returning from France under review in UK

UK government asks the Migration Advisory Committee to investigate

Violent storms leave two dead in France

Hailstones up to 5cm in length tore through roofs in Dordogne. More than 100,000 homes were left without power

Many Canal+ subscribers in France to receive compensation

The announcement impacts customers whose subscription price increased in early 2018

Heatwave in France: will summer temperatures remain higher than usual?

Warm Atlantic winds are expected in Europe during the summer months

Timing for launch of EES app at French borders outlined

App will allow non-EU visitors, whose entries and exits will be logged in new digital borders system, to input most - but not all - data before arrival