At the beginning of September, about fifty doctors, learned societies, patient associations expressed their concern in a forum in the Parisian - Today in France, fearing a new postponement of the experimentation of therapeutic cannabis in France, supposed to start the January 1, 2021. Today, it is up to the political class to step up to the plate.
In its progress report, to be released this Wednesday, September 16, the fact-finding mission set up at the National Assembly expresses its concern.
For its president, the deputy (LR) Robin Reda, we must get started and think about French production sectors.
You write that “France is lagging behind”.
Why ?
ROBIN REDA.
It has fallen worryingly behind its European neighbors, and it continues.
Cannabis remains associated with the underground economy.
Now, this plant has 1000 faces.
The dark of drug trafficking.
But also the one that offers opportunities in the medical field.
We must be on the side of progress: if we can relieve pain that nothing soothes, why deny it?
The experiment planned in this direction with 3000 patients must begin.
The non-publication of an implementing decree prevents this.
Who is blocking?
The current epidemic only partially explains the delays and postponements.
Work began two years ago, most of the technical work was done before the health crisis.
We are therefore in a gray area, an incomprehensible bureaucratic blockage.
There is a gap between the decision taken on the health plan and its political execution.
The government is no longer moving forward on the subject.
Gérald Darmanin is doing the debate a disservice by caricaturing it.
We can only regret it and reaffirm everything is ready.
All that remains is to act.
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Are you not placing too much hope in a plant on which scientific uncertainties remain?
It is by no means a miracle product.
He does not heal!
But foreign experience and patient testimonies show that it is sometimes the last resort against pain.
Hence the interest in "detabouizing" research around its therapeutic properties.
Remember that this is an extremely supervised process, we are not talking about cultivating cannabis at home, under a halogen lamp!
The experiment has not started, that you are already talking about its sustainability ...
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The essence of our mission is to project ourselves into the long term, because the wait is immense.
To think about information and training for caregivers, but also for patients.
The experiment will concern six indications
(Editor's note: including multiple sclerosis or forms of epilepsy)
.
We can legitimately think that this could also concern other pathologies.
The other side is the reconquest of our health sovereignty.
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"Therapeutic cannabis, I'm just waiting for that"
By creating a French production?
In case of experimentation, we will be dependent on products bought abroad, especially in North America.
However, the cultivation of hemp exists in France and producers, if authorized, are able to promote the flower.
The objective is to remove the brakes to develop a French therapeutic cannabis sector.
This is a public health and economic opportunity.
In November, your mission will focus on so-called recreational cannabis.
Should we expect a legalization proposal?
Decriminalization, legalization… I have no position of principle on these subjects.
All will be put on the table, without a priori.
Today we have a problem in the fight against the underground economy in France.
I am elected from the field and I see it: a kid can more easily get cannabis than alcohol or tobacco.
We must open our eyes and find health and safety solutions.
What parliamentarians propose
They preferred to condense ten realistic proposals, "that 50, without tail or head", explains the deputy (LREM) Jean-Baptiste Moreau, general rapporteur of the information mission on therapeutic cannabis, which unveils its recommendations on Wednesday.
The first: the immediate publication of the application decree allowing the implementation of the experiment on 3000 patients.
"Without him, we can not progress on anything", annoys the elected representative of the Creuse.
Second wish: obtaining a specific budget.
“For the moment, there is none!
This means that we will have to rely on the labs.
I don't want that.
The experimentation must remain public, in the hands of medics and not of industrialists.
It is a matter of its impartial conduct, ”he continues.
Other flagship proposals of the report: the development of an “entirely” French medical cannabis sector.
The possibility of producing the whole plant, in order to provide treatments for pathologies fixed by decree.
Or again, "entrusting a public body with its regulation", notes Jean-Baptiste Moreau, determined that things will change ... even if it means jostling the presidential party to which he belongs.
“If we have to force the government to move forward, we will not hesitate.
We will make a bill!
"