French Polynesia announced at the end of December its intention to authorize cannabidiol (CBD) and its derived products, to set up a local hemp cultivation sector and to legalize therapeutic cannabis and its prescription to patients.
The Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cesec), advisory body of fenua, is reluctant to authorize the cultivation of hemp and the marketing of CBD products.
Cesec’s caution
Cesec, while recognizing the potential benefits of therapeutic cannabis, is concerned about the premature nature of the bill. The institution supports the use of medical cannabis for specific pathologies, whether imported or locally produced, but insists on a controlled approach.
Marguerite Lai, Cesec rapporteur, insists on the need for rigorous control: “we cannot let anything happen”. The Council fears the trivialization of cannabis consumption and highlights the potential risks for public health, in particular due to the interaction of cannabidiol (CBD) with medications. Cesec is calling for better arrangements for the control and labeling of products, whether imported or locally produced, to mitigate risks.
Cesec’s caution is also explained by the absence of implementing decrees accompanying the bill. This is a recurring problem in the Polynesian legislative process, where the absence of detailed implementation plans can undermine the effectiveness of proposed laws. Cesec remains in favor of the rapid legalization of medical cannabis but emphasizes the importance of supporting the use of these products with comprehensive training for medical personnel.
Cannabis as medicine against the green gold rush
Cesec draws a clear distinction between therapeutic cannabis, intended for specific medical conditions, and what it calls “wellness” cannabis. The institution initially supports the importation of cannabis-based medicines and is considering controlled local production in the future. However, she has reservations about the provisions of the bill relating to “welfare” cannabis and its cultivation, weighing on the need for more rigorous controls.
Cesec suggests that a comprehensive legal framework be established before encouraging the green gold rush, highlighting the difficulty of keeping THC content below 0.3% and the limited capacity of official analyses. The Polynesian Hemp Union is also calling for this threshold to be increased to 1% due to local environmental conditions favoring the production of hemp’s active ingredients.
The Union expressed its disappointment with the unfavorable opinion of Cesec, citing the judgment of the Council of State of 2022 which called into question the absolute ban on hemp flower limited to 0.3% because the risks for health was not demonstrated.
