Medical cannabis and Multiple Sclerosis
When patients find real relief, science has a duty to follow.
In France, the national pilot program on medical cannabis—launched in 2021—has produced its first consolidated findings. One result stands out: patients living with multiple sclerosis (MS) are among those who benefit the most clearly from cannabis-based treatments.
This isn’t just anecdotal. For patients suffering from MS-related spasticity, pain, and sleep disturbances, cannabinoid therapy has proven effective—often where conventional medications fall short.
What the pilot shows
- Multiple sclerosis patients are the most represented in the program, accounting for 27% of participants.
- Neurologists participating in the study report significant improvements in muscle rigidity, mobility, and quality of life.
- Patients describe a return to “normality,” with fewer spasms and better nights of sleep.
- Tolerability is high, and no major safety concerns have been raised.
These results echo findings from other European countries, where cannabis-based medicines are already integrated into MS treatment plans.
A broader shift underway
France’s upcoming full legalization of medical cannabis in 2025 will embed these insights into public health policy. But it’s part of something bigger:
- More and more patients with neurodegenerative diseases are being considered for cannabinoid-based therapies.
- Healthcare professionals are learning how to prescribe, monitor and personalise cannabis treatments.
- Legislators are beginning to understand that access is not ideology, it’s a clinical necessity.
Beyond stigma: the era of evidence
Multiple sclerosis affects tens of thousands in France, and millions worldwide. For these patients, cannabis is not about lifestyle—it’s about mobility, independence, and dignity.
The French study reinforces what many clinicians across Europe already know: with the right framework, medical cannabis can improve lives. The next step is to make access structured, safe, and equitable—so that the relief found by some becomes the standard for all.
