Hemp: ANSM bans a new wave of cannabinoids in France

The context of these new ANSM bans

By a historic decision rendered at the end of 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) sealed the legality of products containing cannabidiol, or CBD, a cannabinoid found naturally in the hemp plant, including Cannabis L. Sativa and Cannabis Indica strains.

CBD is neither psychotropic nor addictive, according to the WHO

To justify its decision, the CJEU highlighted the non-psychotropic nature of CBD, insofar as this substance does not alter cognitive abilities, does not present risks of abuse or addictive and does not produce serious side effects.

These arguments already appeared in a press release experts from the drug dependence committee of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The conditions of legality of CBD in France

Thus, since the end of 2020, products containing CBD and, by extension, other non-psychotropic cannabinoids such as CBN, CBC and CBG, can be freely marketed and consumed in France and in other EU countries under certain conditions:

• If they contain THC, the main euphoric substance in cannabis, the concentration must be lower than a rate freely defined by each country: 0.3% in France, 0.6% in Italy, 1% in Switzerland, etc.;
• CBD products must comply with the hygiene and safety criteria in force in each country;
• They must finally be 100% traceable, to prevent the CBD used from coming from illegal cannabis crops.

The French CBD market is growing

Since then, a French CBD market has largely developed, despite some legal twists and turns which have failed, on multiple occasions, to reverse its legality.

According to figures from the Interprofession of Hemp Trades (Interchanvre) relayed by the media LSA Conso, France has nearly 7 million regular or occasional consumers of CBD products.

The State therefore authorizes the marketing of CBD products that do not produce euphoric effects. While the majority of consumers seek the soothing, anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects of CBD, some are more fond of the psychotropic effects of cannabis while remaining legal.

The problem non-traceable synthetic cannabinoids

This is why some brands are surfing a gray area and entrusting laboratories with the task of creating synthetic cannabinoids, that is to say created in vitro from natural cannabinoids , with a THC level that is difficult to trace and therefore with potentially psychotropic effects.

It is in this context that we have seen the arrival in France of a new generation of cannabinoids, mainly derived from CBD, with the addition of psychotropic molecules to appeal to recreational cannabis consumers. without directly contravening the law.

These questionable products were first traded secretly, before being marketed by online stores and even certain tobacconists. We're talking about HHC, H4-CBD, HHCPO, THCP, THCA, etc.

In reality, manufacturers and resellers exploit alegal loophole: in France, all cannabinoids not prohibited by law can be more or less freely marketed. Logically, the ban only comes several months, or even several years, after the market launch of a new potentially dangerous cannabinoid.

The HHC and the first wave of ANSM ban

On June 13, 2023, the ANSM announced the ban on the sale and consumption of products containing HHC and its derivatives (HHCO and HHCP). This cannabinoid, which was beginning to be massively consumed in France and elsewhere in Europe, was deemed psychotropic and dangerous for health.

The ANSM committee had mentioned altered perception, hallucinations and cases of paranoia attacks among consumers of these synthetic cannabinoids. Today, the ANSM is continuing its policy with a second wave of bans.

The ANSM bans a new series of suspect cannabinoids

The policeman of health products and “new foods” is this time attacking a new group of synthetic cannabinoids: substances with a benzo[c]chromene ring, namely H4-CBD , H2-CBD, HHCPO, THCP and THCA.

Cannabinoids which have such a nucleus indeed pose a real public health problem:

• They have a high psychoactive potential, because they interact more strongly and in a more affinity manner with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system, present in particular in the brain;
• The benzo[c]chromene ring is not a chemical structure fully understood by science. Its impact on human health therefore remains unknown, as does its toxicity and the risk of abuse or dependence;
• Due to their flexible and unstable molecular structure, these cannabinoids are difficult to detect and regulate by health authorities.

The ANSM press release mentions immediate side effects which can present a danger to the life of the consumer, in particular "vomiting, loss of consciousness, coma, convulsions, paranoia, anxiety or even a panic attack, high blood pressure, tachycardia or chest pain that may suggest a heart attack”. The ANSM also mentions “cases of renal failure”.

Another problematic point: since products containing these cannabinoids are not traceable or regulated by authorities, their actual composition may not correspond to that indicated on the packaging, although such as the different alleged concentrations.

Our position at Famous CBD on new cannabinoids

Our mission is clear: to allow consumers to benefit from the virtues of legal hemp in complete safety. This is why we have the choice, from the creation of our online store, to only offer legal hemp products, widely studied by science and known for their benefits, in this case CBD, CBN, CBC and CBG.

We have never marketed cannabinoids that fall outside of this quartet, even if they are or have been legal in the past. Famous CBD has, for example, never sold products containing HHC, H4-CBD, THCP or THCA... which is not necessarily the case for some of our competitors.

By shopping on our online store, you have the certainty of purchasing 100% legal and 100% traceable hemp products which improve your daily well-being.