The French ANSM's action against synthetic cannabinoids
The French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) has decided to add new cannabinoids to the list of narcotic drugs.
France has taken a firm stance against the growing proliferation of products containing synthetic cannabinoids on the market, such as HHC, H4CBD or THCP. These products are mainly sold online and in some CBD shops, in the form of cannabis flower (sprayed with these cannabinoids), cannabis resin (with these compounds added), sprays, gummies, vapes and e-liquids, to be swallowed, vaporised or smoked.
The Agency argues that these compounds, which have taken advantage of legal loopholes to enter the market, present significant risks due to their unknown safety, dependence potential and psychoactive effects.
Details of the new regulation
The measure, which came into force on 3 June 2024, follows the HHC ban in summer 2023 and the statement made in March about the intention to regulate these compounds.
In early May, the ANSM used the European Commission's urgent procedure to submit its draft ban. The cannabinoids now classified as narcotic drugs include:
- H4CBD (also known as hydrogenated CBD or tetrahydrocannabidiol)
- H2CBD (dihydrocannabidiol)
- THCP
- HHC, HHCO, HHCP and HHCPO
- In addition, the measure bans any substance derived from the benzo[c]chromene nucleus with certain structural modifications, with the exception of cannabinol (CBN). On 3 June 2024, the ANSM also excluded CBNA, THCV and THCVA (up to 0.3%) and THCA, provided the THC content does not exceed 0.3%.
Reasons for the measure
In its official statement, the ANSM explained that these neo-cannabinoids have been classified as narcotic drugs because of the health risks and potential for dependence associated with their use. The agency justified the measure by saying it had received numerous reports of serious effects from the Centres for Evaluation and Information on Drug Dependence and Addictovigilance (CEIP-A).
Several companies in the sector are expected to challenge this new regulation, just as they tried to do with the HHC ban. For now, shops have started clearing their stock.
