Le CBD sera-t-il un jour en pharmacie ?

Will CBD ever be sold in pharmacies?

CBD is a molecule derived from the cannabis plant and is now sold commercially in France. When it comes to sales, the French state has brought itself into line with Europe. It was through the Court of Justice, and thanks to it, that France found itself unable to ban the sale of cannabidiol and had to let this market open up across the country. According to the authorities, the difficulty stems from the fact that it is not easy to tell THC (the psychoactive substance in cannabis) apart from CBD. The complexity lies in the legal THC level of hemp-based products, which must not exceed 0.2% THC. Testing these levels in France still takes a long time and is costly, as the industry has not yet developed in this direction. However, neighbouring Switzerland fully legalised CBD 5 years ago and has all the equipment needed to distinguish THC from CBD. It just goes to show that it is a matter of will, especially for France, which is currently the European country with the highest number of cannabis users. We very much hope that the French state will make more and more effort to update its legislation and its resources. Even so, it is easy to find CBD in France, either online or in shops. But perhaps today you are asking yourself the following question: is it possible to find CBD in pharmacies?

CBD in pharmacies: what you need to know

CBD is, logically enough, available in pharmacies in France. Yes, you read that correctly: you can go to your pharmacist and ask for cannabidiol-based products. However, pharmacies only sell a few products for the time being, most of which are CBD oils, but also CBD sweets and sometimes even CBD hash.

CBD in pharmacies is subject to several rules so that pharmacists can offer cannabidiol-based products for sale. Firstly, your pharmacy must receive authorisation from the French state. Secondly, CBD sold in pharmacies must comply with the law, with a THC level not exceeding 0.2%. Thirdly, cannabidiol must not be promoted for its medicinal properties, but must be treated as a food supplement. Finally, to obtain authorisation to sell CBD, pharmacies must advise their customers in accordance with the code of ethics. They must indicate the recommended doses as well as the correct dosage.

So it is possible to find CBD in pharmacies under these conditions, even though the sale of cannabidiol in pharmacies is not yet widespread in France. We recommend that you turn to a CBD shop, which will be just as specialised, or even better qualified on the subject.

CBD from online pharmacies

It is easier to find CBD from online pharmacies than in high-street pharmacies, because websites are not subject to the same restrictions as physical pharmacies. That said, they are still bound by one and the same rule: medicines prescribed by a doctor. As they do not welcome people into a shop, online sites can offer a wider choice of CBD, since they do not need to justify the legality of their business. However, buying CBD from an online pharmacy is therefore a little riskier in terms of safety than buying in store. Many websites that claim to be online pharmacies are not really pharmacies, and that makes all the difference. So make sure you check that the online pharmacy is well rated and secure before making a purchase, or turn to a CBD shop that knows the subject of cannabidiol much better.

CBD: a food supplement

That's right, CBD is not a medicine. Today, cannabidiol is considered a food supplement. Health authorities have not yet recognised the benefits of this molecule, and the scientific community has not validated its properties either. When you buy CBD in a pharmacy, you are therefore getting products similar to those sold in specialist shops. CBD shops and pharmacies take the same care over the quality of the cannabidiol-based products they sell. In France, there is nevertheless one cannabidiol-based medicine that has been authorised for the market: Epidyolex. This medicine significantly reduces severe epileptic seizures in children. Sativex has also been authorised, but this medicine has a high THC content and helps reduce pain in people with multiple sclerosis. These two medicines are not available in CBD shops, as they are only supplied on prescription.

How to find CBD

Finding CBD in a pharmacy may feel reassuring, but at present it is not at all the right place to get it. First of all, bear in mind that not all pharmacies offer CBD. Next, you will have very little choice if you do manage to find a pharmacy that can supply it. Finally, pharmacists are still poorly or insufficiently informed about cannabidiol and about the quality of what is currently available on the CBD market.

The team at our CBD Shop recommends that you buy from an online CBD shop such as Cali Weed, so that you have an initial guarantee regarding where the products come from. We offer French CBD products from organic farming. Our ethical and ecological values allow us to position ourselves as pioneers in the distribution of organic CBD in France. Of course, all our products are fully legal in the eyes of the law, and our thorough knowledge of our products allows us to meet your expectations as best we can. For us, wanting to buy CBD in a pharmacy seems like a good idea but isn't, for the reasons mentioned above. We hope this article has answered your various questions. If you have any other questions or requests, please feel free to send us a message directly via our contact form.

The Cali Weed team

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