According to a recent survey, 82% of French people would be in favor of the therapeutic use of cannabis. The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) is currently looking into the issue, and could rule on its use for patients with certain diseases. For this, she announced this Monday the creation of a temporary specialized scientific committee (CSST).
Cited by Usine Nouvelle, the deputy director of drugs at ANSM Nathalie Richard, explained that the objective of this committee is to study “The therapeutic interest of cannabis for the treatment of certain pathologies”, then according to the data collected from” to assure [sa] establishment […] and specify the terms of access “.
Certain forms for certain pathologies
The committee will be based on the analysis of scientific data from countries where it is already authorized – the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom. Patients will be auditioned, to take their point of view into account. Representatives of associations and professionals in the health and human sciences will also be involved in the work.
The ANSM does not rule out the probability of authorizing the joint, but its shape will not be privileged. “Smoking cannabis is harmful because of the combustion. In addition, the duration of action is much shorter ”, underlines Nathalie Richard, also specialist in narcotics and psychotropic drugs at the ANSM. Rather than the smoked form, therapeutic cannabis could be available in oral, capsule, infusion, or vaporizer form. Only certain pathologies would also be affected by its consumption. Its effectiveness has already been proven to relieve pain caused by multiple sclerosis, or to combat the nausea suffered by patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Medicines already authorized
In France, drugs based on molecules derived from cannabis have already been authorized since 2013. Sativex, a pain reliever spray for patients with multiple sclerosis, has received its authorization. It is not currently marketed, due to a disagreement on its selling price. Others, such as Marinol or Edipolex only have a temporary authorization for use (ATU). This year, a lawyer also highlighted a flaw in French law. The main component of cannabis, THC, has been reportedly legal since 2007.
The first meeting of the brand new CSST will be held in October. The first conclusions will be submitted at the end of the year. Public hearings will also be available on Dailymotion, in order to be able to follow the debates on the subject.
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