Ongoing trials are evaluating cannabis for serious illnesses and the legalization of non-psychoactive CBD.
Cannabis and CBD may help with nerve-related pain Creativan / Shutterstock
A reader asks: Has France legalized cannabis for medical purposes, and what is this “CBD” they're selling?
In France, an experiment on the legalization (and compensation) of cannabis for people suffering from serious illnesses is underway. The experiment will begin in 2021 and will continue until at least the end of the year, although it was initially planned for two years. However, if you are not already in the experiment, you will not be able to join it at the moment.
It has been prescribed for conditions such as nerve-related pain that is not adequately relieved by standard treatments, some types of epilepsy, certain cancer symptoms (or side effects of chemotherapy), palliative care, and painful spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and similar central nervous system diseases.
It is prescribed to be either inhaled through a vaporizer as dried flower or taken orally as an oil. It does not include versions designed for smoking.
Read more: French hospital approves medical cannabis for pain relief
CBD (cannabidiol) is the second most active compound in cannabis.
After years of legal uncertainty, the sale and use of CBD products was officially legalized in France in 2022.
It's essentially a type of cannabis that contains no or only trace amounts of THC, the drug's “psychoactive” ingredient.
This means that it does not make users feel “high” and is not considered to be addictive. It comes in the form of oils, dried flowers, herbal teas and resins.
A Harvard University study found there was evidence it may be effective for conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain. Studies have shown that marijuana is “relatively non-toxic,” but it does have side effects, including nausea, fatigue and irritability, which is why doctors don't recommend smoking it.
