3–5 minutes
As the HAS published its pricing and reimbursement draft strategy this week, it is in the final stages of the decision process before the market can be implemented at the national level.
The struggle to extend access past the peak of 3000 patients in the pilot programme has been slow, frustrating and often futile.
In the past few months this pace has changed, and it is likely that nationalisation will be just a matter of months.
But as we rush towards the finish, there are questions being asked by clinicians, patients and industry stakeholders about whether or not the system will be built for them, or just for their institutions?
During yesterday’s Cannabis Europa Paris 2026, this issue dominated the afternoon’s sessions, with panellists ranging from patients-turned-entrepreneurs, US industry leaders, pharmaceutical scientists and vaping specialists all weighing in to provide a forensic analysis.
The best of starts is never meant to last
It was never intended to replace the national framework. The programme pilot was designed only as a concept proof, and was meant to run for two years. After multiple extensions, there were issues with the available formats and products. These have been largely carried over to the permanent framework.
One of our main concerns was that the product selection, especially oils, fell well short of what an established market demands. The absence of fast-acting and slow-release formats is not just a small inconvenience. It is not acceptable to delay the onset of an oil for 40 minutes, especially in conditions requiring rapid onset such as acute cancer pain, PTSD and severe spasticity.
Panelists agreed that no one format is superior to all others. Each has its own pharmacokinetic profiles that are tailored for different conditions. As an example, there are sublingual tablets that can treat chronic pain, neurological disorders, and inhalation extractions to address acute problems, as well as suppositories which target IBD. For each form, the clinician needs half-life profiles and Tmax and Cmax profiles.
Helene Klein later in the afternoon, representing a major pilot programme stakeholder during the entire experimentation period, gave a telling assessment about the delays. Officials responsible for the delays were from outside of the pharmaceutical industry and they were still learning.
In a private discussion with a DGS representative, the DGS’s main goal was to gather data to establish a strong evidence base to support a reimbursement medical cannabis market. The market was shaped by this ambition, which also caused the delays of several years.
READ MORE…
Flower’s omission is still controversial
We reported that France’s decision to remove traditional flower products will help ease regulatory hurdles. However, there’s good reason why this format is available on almost all medical markets.
The panelists agreed that while flower can be used to bridge the gap between inhalation and flower extracts when inhalation is not available, it shouldn’t be the solution for long term use. This is because only 20-30% flower contains active substances, with the remaining flower containing respiratory unidentified compounds which would make them unacceptable as part of a pharmaceutical product.
Inhalation extracts alter the calculation. The flower-like effects are available without the risks. However, a cartridge with 85% THC actually delivers less THC into your bloodstream than a 2.5% oil.
Arnaud dumas de Rauly, Chairman of VAPESafer, stressed the importance of registering and testing devices and oils as part as an integrated system. Testing components separately does not tell you what a patient inhales.
France is still unable to access these extracts. Cantourage CEO Philip Schetter stated that France would be at risk of losing a large portion of their potential patients if it did not have both inhalation and telemedicine. The demand for formats that are not available on the market does not disappear, but rather it is pushed underground.
Education deficit
The most pressing issue was physician training. The RECAN Registry in France gathered valuable data during the first two years of the pilot, but then slowly dwindled away over the course of the transition. This means that the base evidence is thinner now than expected, despite the fact the project lasted three years longer.
The panelists all agreed that the training should be integrated in existing clinical pathways, and extend beyond doctors and nurses to include medical students, pharmacists and even pharmacy assistants.
David Tang went on to say that all of the system needed to be educated. Police officers in the UK were still treating people with prescriptions who are legal as criminals when they stopped them at the roadside until just recently. They had not been informed about the changes to the regulations.
3–5 minutes
As the HAS published its pricing and reimbursement draft strategy this week, it is in the final stages of decisions before the market can be implemented at the national level.
Since its launch in 2021 as a pilot project, the effort to increase access for more than the 3000 people the program saw during its peak has been a long and sometimes frustrating struggle.
In the past few months this pace has changed, thanks to an improved political climate and a regulator who is willing to act. Nationalisation could be just a matter of months.
But as we rush towards the finish, there are questions being asked by clinicians, patients and industry stakeholders about whether or not the system will be built for them, or just for their institutions?
During yesterday’s Cannabis Europa Paris 2026, this issue dominated the afternoon’s sessions, with panellists ranging from patients-turned-entrepreneurs, US industry leaders, pharmaceutical scientists and vaping specialists all weighing in to provide a forensic analysis.
The best of starts is never meant to last
It was never intended to replace the national framework. The programme pilot was designed only as a concept proof, and was meant to run for two years. Over the course of multiple extensions, problems with products and formats became apparent. The permanent framework largely incorporated these issues.
One of our main concerns was that the product selection, especially oils, fell well short of what an established market demands. The absence of fast-acting and slow-release formats is a major inconvenience for patients. It is not acceptable to delay the onset of an oil for 40 minutes, especially in conditions requiring rapid onset such as acute cancer pain, PTSD and severe spasticity.
Panelists agreed that no one format is superior to all others. Each has its own pharmacokinetic profiles that are tailored for different conditions. As an example, there are sublingual tablets that can treat chronic pain, neurological disorders, and inhalation extractions to address acute problems, as well as suppositories which target IBD. For each form, the clinician needs half-life profiles and Tmax and Cmax profiles.
Helene Klein gave an insightful assessment on the delays later that day. She represented one of the main stakeholders in the pilot program throughout all the experiments. Officials responsible for the delays were from outside of the pharmaceutical industry and they were still learning.
In a private discussion with a DGS representative, the DGS’s main goal was to gather data to establish a strong evidence base to support a reimbursement medical cannabis market. The market was shaped by this ambition, which also caused the delays of several years.
READ MORE…
Flower’s omission is still controversial
We reported that France’s decision to remove traditional flower products will help ease regulatory hurdles. However, there’s good reason why this format is available on almost all medical markets.
A panel of experts argued that flower was a temporary solution in the absence of inhalation extracts, but it should not be used as a long-term alternative. Only 20-30% is an active ingredient, and the rest contains respiratory contaminants which are unacceptable in a product with pharmaceutical grade.
Inhalation extracts alter the calculation. The flower-like effects are available without the risks. However, a cartridge with 85% THC actually delivers less THC into your bloodstream than a 2.5% oil.
Arnaud dumas de Rauly, Chairman of VAPESafer, stressed the importance of registering and testing devices and oils as part a system. Testing components separately does not tell you what a patient is actually inhaling.
France is still unable to access these extracts. Cantourage CEO Philip Schetter stated that France would be at risk of losing a large portion of their potential patients if it did not have both inhalation and telemedicine. When markets fail to provide the formats customers demand, they do not reduce demand; rather, it simply drives demand underground.
Education deficit
Unresolved issues were identified as being the most pressing. France’s RECAN database gathered useful information in the pilot program’s first 2 years, then slowed down during the transition.
All panellists agree that medical training must be integrated with existing clinical paths and extend beyond doctors and nurses to include pharmacists and students.
David Tang argued that all of the system needed to be educated. In the UK police treated people with prescriptions who were legal as criminals when they stopped them at the roadside until just recently. They had not been informed about the changes in regulations.
Cannabis Law Resources for Poland
Discover essential legal information about the cultivation of cannabis, its sale, and regulations governing medical products in Poland. These guides will help you understand the legal requirements, such as certifications and permissions.
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Polish News Registration and Interests of Cannabis Businesses
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Permissions for Cannabis Sales in Poland
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Authorization for Importing or Manufacturing Medical Products
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Permission for Manufacturing or Importing Medical Products
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Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
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Registration of Medical Products in Poland