CBD & Hemp
Europe's largest untapped medical market — entering permanent regulation in 2026.
France launched a two-year medical cannabis pilot in 2021, extended through 2024. Permanent legalisation of medical access is expected in 2026. Prohibition Partners forecasts a 440% increase in market size between 2027 and 2029 once permanent access is established.
In March 2025, France notified the European Commission of its intention to legalise medical cannabis authorisation and domestic production. The TRIS (Technical Regulations Information System) procedure is underway — EC approval is expected to be a formality, followed by ministerial sign-off in France.
The new permanent framework is expected to be in place by April 2026 at the latest, as approximately 1,600 patients currently in the trial will continue treatment until that point.
Granulated flower products may be permitted under the new framework — a shift from the trial's later stages which only allowed extracts. However, patients will be prohibited from smoking; consumption must be via a CE-certified dry herb vaporiser.
Products will be approved via 'temporary use authorisations' (ATUs). France's ANSM (medicines regulator) will oversee approvals, with a 210-day response window and 5-year validation periods.
Domestic cultivation will be permitted but must be conducted indoors only. Cultivators must have a binding contract with an authorised establishment before growing.
Who can prescribe: Under the new framework, only trained and certified physicians. Training programmes will be developed in consultation with the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS). Currently, 274 specialists have been trained in medical cannabis prescription.
Approved conditions:
Medical cannabis remains a treatment of last resort — patients must demonstrate intolerance or failure of all standard therapies.
Reimbursement: The HAS still needs to determine how medical cannabis will be covered under public health insurance.
France's new framework will introduce a product market from 2026. Under the trial programme, only extract products were permitted in its latter stages; the new framework may reintroduce granulated flower products.
Specific retail pricing data and product portfolios will be published as the new authorisation process (ATU) is applied to market entrants.
Domestic manufacturing will be permitted alongside imports under the new commercial framework.
France has historically imported medical cannabis products for its trial programme. As the country moves towards a permanent framework, domestic cultivation and international imports are both expected to grow.
France's domestic industry is in early stages — only indoor cultivation will be permitted under the new rules. Supply chain development is expected to accelerate through 2025–2026.
France has been running a medical cannabis pilot since 2021. Full permanent legalisation of medical access is expected in 2026. Currently, a limited number of patients have access through designated specialist pharmacies.
There is no current parliamentary proposal for adult-use legalisation in France. The political priority is establishing a permanent medical framework first. Market forecasts show significant growth potential once medical access is normalised.