Hemp: ANSM bans a new wave of cannabinoids in France

The context of these new ANSM bans

In a landmark ruling 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 the Cannabis L. Sativa and Cannabis Indica strains.

CBD is neither psychotropic nor addictive, according to the WHO

To justify its decision, the CJEU argued that CBD is non-psychotropic, as this substance does not impair cognitive abilities, does not present any risks of abuse or dependence, and does not produce serious side effects.

These arguments were already included in a press release from experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) Committee on Drug Dependence.

The legal conditions 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 level 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.
• Finally, they must 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 grown significantly , despite some legal twists and turns that have almost, on numerous occasions, reversed its legality.

According to figures from the Interprofessional Hemp Trades Association (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 rather fond of the psychotropic effects of cannabis while remaining within the law.

The problem of untraceable synthetic cannabinoids

This is why some brands are navigating a grey area and entrusting laboratories with the task of creating synthetic cannabinoids, i.e., those 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 please recreational cannabis consumers without directly contravening the law.

These dubious products were first traded under the counter before being marketed by online stores and even some tobacconists. We are talking about HHC, H4-CBD , HHCPO, THCP , THCA, etc.

In reality, manufacturers and retailers are exploiting a legal 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 years, after the launch of a new, potentially dangerous cannabinoid on the market.

The HHC and the first wave of ANSM bans

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

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

ANSM bans a new series of suspect cannabinoids

The health products and "novel foods" regulator is this time targeting a new group of synthetic cannabinoids: substances with a benzo[c]chromene nucleus, namely H4-CBD, H2-CBD, HHCPO, THCP, and THCA .

Cannabinoids with such a nucleus pose a real public health problem:

• They have a high psychoactive potential because they interact more strongly and in a more affinity-like manner with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system, present in particular in the brain.
• The benzo[c]chromene nucleus is not a chemical structure fully understood by science. Its impact on human health remains unknown, as does its toxicity and the risk of abuse or addiction;
• 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 that can be life-threatening for the consumer, including "vomiting, loss of consciousness, coma, convulsions, paranoia, anxiety or even panic attacks, high blood pressure, tachycardia, or chest pains that may suggest a heart attack." The ANSM also mentions "cases of kidney failure."

Another problematic point: since products containing these cannabinoids are not traceable or regulated by the authorities, their actual composition may not correspond to that indicated on the packaging, nor may the different concentrations claimed.

Our position at Famous CBD on new cannabinoids

Our mission is clear: to enable consumers to safely enjoy the benefits of legal hemp. That's why, from the very beginning of our online store, we've chosen to offer only legal hemp products that have been extensively studied by science and are known for their benefits, namely CBD, CBN, CBC, and CBG.

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

By shopping in our online store, you can be sure that you are purchasing 100% legal and 100% traceable hemp products that will improve your daily well-being.