Georges Desjardin-Legalt

Journaliste, peintre et musicien, Georges Desjardin-Legault est un homme curieux de toutes choses. Un penchant pour la découverte qui l'a emmené à travailler à Los Angeles et Londres. Revenu au Canada, l'oiseau à plumes bien trempées s'est posé sur la branche Zeweed en 2018. Il est aujourd'hui rédacteur en chef du site.

Cannabis therapy: less pills, more well-being for seniors

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Cannabis Thérapeutique, Seniors, Wellness, Health

What if medical cannabis tidied up a good chunk of the medicine cabinet? According to a study published in the journal Cannabis, patients over the age of 50 who use medical cannabis products reduce their consumption of prescription drugs and experience a significant improvement in their quality of life.

Conducted in Canada, the study followed over 200 patients with an average age of 67, suffering mainly from chronic pain. Their state of health was assessed at the start of the study, and after three and six months of treatment. Most were taking cannabis in oral form, with a high CBD content.

Fewer antidepressants, sleeping pills and painkillers

The results were clear: the vast majority of participants reported significant improvements in pain, sleep and quality of life. “The use of co-medications, including analgesics, antidepressants and sleeping pills, was reduced”, note the researchers. No serious side effects were reported.
For the study’s authors, this is one of the most extensive studies to date on the use of medical cannabis in senior citizens. “Our results suggest that cannabis could be a relatively safe and effective alternative for treating chronic pain, sleep disorders and other age-related pathologies. Its use reduces prescription drug consumption and healthcare costs, while significantly improving quality of life.

A confirmed trend

Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of NORML, an organization campaigning for cannabis policy reform, welcomes the new data: “More and more research is showing that cannabis improves the quality of life of the elderly. Many suffer from pain, anxiety, sleep disorders… ailments for which cannabis can be a remedy. They also know that the drugs available – opioids, sleeping pills – have serious side effects. For them, medical cannabis represents a potentially safer alternative.”
The full study, entitled Medical cannabis for patients over age 50: A multi-site, prospective study of patterns of use and health outcomes, is available from the Research Society on Marijuana

ZEWEED with Norml

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90% of Americans are in favor of legalizing cannabis

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Legalization, cannabis, USA.

According to a new Pew Research Center survey, 9 out of 10 Americans now support the legalization of cannabis, whether for therapeutic or recreational use. A bipartisan and generational consensus that illustrates the extent to which American society has changed its view of this too-long reviled plant.

In the space of a few years, cannabis has gone from being a threat to a matter of course. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center provides striking proof of this: 87% of American adults are now in favor of some form of legalization. More than half (54%) advocate both recreational and medical legalization, while a third (33%) support medical use only. Only 12% consider that marijuana should remain banned altogether.
These figures confirm a fundamental trend that began in the early 2000s, and is now well established in all strata of society. Massive support for legalization transcends not only partisan divides, but also differences of age, income and ethnic origin. It’s a cultural, social and political groundswell.

Bipartisan support

Unlike many ultra-politicized issues in the U.S., cannabis is an exception. The Pew study shows that 93% of Democrats favor some form of legalization, with 66% in favor of full legalization. On the Republican side, support remains overwhelming, with 81% in favor of at least medical openness, and 43% for full legalization.This bipartisan support is partly explained by a generational shift: younger Republicans are much more open than their elders. But the dynamic goes beyond this: in a society marked by mistrust of institutions, cannabis legalization appears to be a common-sense reform capable of uniting people beyond the traditional camps.
The change is profound. Long equated with a dangerous drug, a vector of marginality or delinquency, cannabis is now seen as a therapeutic, economical and sometimes even commonplace product. The study underlines that many Americans associate legalization with positive spin-offs: local economic stimulation, a lighter judicial system, an end to discrimination in police checks.
Of course, concerns persist: some mention the risks of trivialization, the effects on mental health or driving behaviour. But these reservations are in the minority, and do not call into question the overall consensus. The shift in opinion is clear.

Soft progressivism

Thirty-eight states have already legalized medical use, and twenty-four have gone as far as recreational use. At federal level, the Biden administration has begun the process of reclassifying cannabis, which until now has ranked alongside heroin and LSD on the list of controlled substances. This reclassification would pave the way for more in-depth research, more flexible regulation, and legal recognition of medical use.
Congress is also working on legislation to facilitate access to banking services for cannabis companies, currently hindered by federal illegality. But resistance remains strong in some conservative circles, notably in the Senate. The new director of the DEA recently declared that he would “study the question” before making a decision, proof of persistent caution in high circles.

Vox populi lobbying

In this contrasting landscape, one thing is clear: public opinion has far outstripped its representatives. The almost unanimous support for some form of legalization constitutes direct political pressure on Washington. Elected officials will have to come to terms with this reality, especially as a majority of voters today consider prohibition to be ineffective, costly and unfair.
Cannabis, once the totem of the counter-culture, has become a marker of pragmatism. It embodies a desire for social reform, economic leverage and a symbol of individual freedom. For many Americans, it’s time for the law to catch up with the times.
The debate over cannabis legalization is no longer ideological: it’s a fact of society. Whether you see it as a public health issue, a question of social justice or an economic opportunity, the popular verdict is clear. In an America deeply divided on so many issues, cannabis represents a rare point of union. It remains to be seen whether the institutions will be able to keep up with the tempo imposed by the street.

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USA: THC drinks make their way into supermarkets

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Target is taking a step into the world of weed without being too cautious: since Friday, the giant retailer has been testing THC beverages in ten stores in Minnesota, its stronghold. A highly symbolic trial run at a time when Congress is debating a possible backtrack on “intoxicating” hemp. Beverage aisle, federal debate: same scene, same actors – but this time, at the head of the aisle.

Minnesota, pioneer state or guinea pig?

Minneapolis-based Target has quietly shelved a dozen brands of THC-flavored sodas and seltzers in ten pilot stores. On the list: Birdie, Cann, Gigli, Hi Seltzer, Indeed, Señorita, Stigma, Surly, Trail Magic, Wonder, Wyld and Wynk. The local framework has paved the way: since 2022, Minnesota has authorized the sale of all cannabinoids derived from hemp (including CBD) in food, cosmetics and beverages, under a federal ceiling of 0.3% THC, with strict limits for ingestible products: 5 mg per serving, 50 mg per pack. The result: an already educated market, curious consumers, and shelves that increasingly resemble those of alcohol-free beer. ” Given all that’s going on around hemp, Target getting into it is monumental,” hails Trail Magic co-founder Jason Dayton. ” We want more regulation, not less: age control, testing, traceability – the rules of the road that made alcohol, ” continues the entrepreneur in an interview with Marijuana Moments.

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Big names in industry

The line-up assumes the in-between: fun, “clean”, dosed for a light effect, without the drunkenness or hangover. Some competitors even applaud from the sidelines. ” Huge for the category, big up to those who are in it,” chuckles Adam Terry (Cantrip). Behind the scenes, alcohol investors and distributors take notes: ” We’ve seen big state distributors and Total Wine-type chains try their hand at it, but none of the retail heavyweights have taken the plunge. Now they have. “, writes investor Aaron Edelheit (Mindset Capital). Officially, Target is talking about a “limited test” to ” better understand demand “. Unofficially, everyone wonders whether the Minnesota pilot will open the door to other states where hemp-derived THC drinks are already outright legal.

Federal spectrum

Tight timing: in Washington, elected officials are pushing to ban any hemp product containing a measurable amount of THC, at the risk of wiping out the opening of the 2018 Farm Bill. States, meanwhile, are tinkering with their lines: some restrict, others frame and tax. While politics hesitates, practices advance. Polls follow one another: a majority of Americans consider cannabis “healthier” than alcohol; four out of five THC-drinkers say they have reduced their alcohol consumption – more than one in five have stopped altogether. The big clubs are adapting their HR (the normalization of cannabis is taking root in testing policies), the ecosystem is being structured (veterans’ associations are forging licensing agreements to sell THC seltzers in their clubs), and the spirits industry is watching market share slip towards hemp-flavored bubbles. If Target succeeds, the softs aisle will no longer just smell of lemons: it will tell the story of an accelerated recomposition of American aperitifs.

Double or nothing

The billion-dollar question remains: will this pilot go national? Nothing has been decided yet. The legal experts in Minneapolis know that a regulatory faux pas is worth a bad buzz and a product recall. But the DNA of the operation – a “low-dose” selection, brands with a proven track record in lab testing, a clearly-displayed legal age – speaks to the ambition: to standardize without provoking, to tame the general public without promising the moon. If Washington opts for a tougher approach, Target will put its cans away and nobody will talk about it anymore. If the compromise prevails, then the mass market has just opened up. In that case, October’s little revolution in Minnesota could serve as a model – for Target, for the mass market, and for a sector that dreams of becoming the “third way” drink between sparkling water and IPA.

Zeweed with Marijuana Moments

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Cannabis does not lead to other drugs, concludes major Japanese study

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A new study of drug use patterns in Japan once again challenges the notion that cannabis is a gateway drug. It concludes that cannabis use in the country generally follows that of alcohol and tobacco, and that users rarely turn to other substances afterwards.

Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology Reports, this research – which its authors describe as “one of the largest and most important studies to date of cannabis users in the Japanese population” – also revealed that almost half of the respondents who named cannabis as their third drug “ did not subsequently useother substances”.
“Cannabis use in Japan typically follows that of alcohol and tobacco, and rarely leads to other uses,” concludes the report, supported by the Japanese Cannabinoid Clinical Association and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. ” These findings call into question the gateway drug hypothesis in the Japanese context.”
The study acknowledges that cannabis “is often labeled as a ‘gateway drug‘”, but stresses that “strong causal evidence for progression to other substances is limited “.

Unprecedented survey undermines theory of cannabis-hard drug escalation

Its findings suggest that, rather than leading directly to other drugs, cannabis use reflects “shared vulnerabilities” – involving factors such as age, education or socio-economic status – and that strict anti-drug policies can shape these trajectories.
The study is based on an anonymous survey conducted in January 2021 among 3,900 people in Japan who had used cannabis in their lifetime. Researchers then analyzed the data to assess the likelihood that these people had used other drugs after trying marijuana.
” Rather than assuming a causal gateway effect of cannabis,” the authors write, ” the results underline the importance of taking into account the overall life context in which substance use takes place. Social determinants such as age, education and socio-economic position appear to shape consumption patterns independently of the pharmacological properties of cannabis. ”

Evaluation of the responses revealed that ” the probabilities of subsequent use of alcohol, tobacco, methamphetamine and other illicit drugs after cannabis use were 1.25, 0.77, 0.08 and 0.78 respectively – suggesting low probabilities of progression “.
While the results did show certain correlations between lifetime cannabis use and the use of other drugs, such as methamphetamine, the team of 12 researchers made it clear that these observations did not establish a causal link – the very heart of the gateway drug theory.
” Our survey found that 10.4% of cannabis users reported having experimented with methamphetamine – a figure well above the estimated 0.5% lifetime use of this substance in the general Japanese population,” says the report. ” This suggests that cannabis users may indeed be more exposed to other illegal drugs, but it does not, however, establish causality. ”

Social factors more decisive than cannabis itself

The study focuses instead on the so-called “common vulnerability” theory, according to which ” the observed order and relationship between substances results not from one drug leading directly to another, but from common underlying factors – such as genetic, psychological or social influences – that predispose some individuals to poly-drug use.”” In Japan,” the team explains, “ strict regulation of cannabis may contribute to a situation where cannabis and other drugs circulate on the same black market, increasing users’ exposure to various substances.” It could therefore be the regulatory environment – and not the pharmacological properties of cannabis – that creates a gateway effect.
Another finding that supports this hypothesis, the report points out, is the relatively low rate of use of legal substances such as benzodiazepines and prescription drugs among cannabis users in the sample.
The authors do, however, acknowledge certain limitations to the study, such as the self-selecting nature of the survey conducted online via social networks, or the fact that respondents were recruited on the basis of their use of cannabis, and not other drugs.” To overcome these limitations,” they write, ” future large-scale cohort studies involving the general population will be essential. ”
But at the very least, based on the results of this current survey, the report concludes, “ we observed no pattern that supports the gateway drug hypothesis. ”

No increase in drug use in legalized US states

Meanwhile, in the USA, a study conducted last year revealed that the legalization of recreational cannabis does not appear to have contributed to what the authors describe as a ” substantial increase” in the use of Schedule II stimulants in the country. In fact, there is even evidence to suggest that cannabis legalization may have reduced the use of stimulants through substitution effects.
The authors of this study pointed out that the finding that the end of cannabis prohibition was not linked to an increase in stimulant use ran counter to their initial expectations.

The team had predicted that the legalization of recreational cannabis would lead to an increase in stimulant use, but found no evidence to support this.
While cannabis is often labeled a gateway drug by its detractors, numerous studies show that marijuana could, on the contrary, act as a substitute for certain drugs, at least for certain categories of users.
A survey released in 2023 by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and Morning Consult found that Americans consider marijuana significantly less dangerous than cigarettes, alcohol or opioids – and find it less addictive than all of these substances, including technology.

Cannabis less harmful than alcohol and tobacco

A separate poll, conducted by Gallup, also showed that Americans consider marijuana to be less harmful than alcohol, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.
With regard to alcohol, a study published in November 2023 concluded that cannabis legalization could be linked to a “ substitution effect “, with young adults in California ” significantly ” reducing their alcohol and tobacco consumption after the reform took effect.

Recent research in Canada has also shown a correlation between cannabis legalization and lower beer sales, again suggesting a substitution effect between the products. Other studies have established a link between cannabis legalization and reduced use of prescription and non-prescription opioids. A report published last November, for example, linked the legalization of medical cannabis to a ” lower frequency ” of non-prescription pharmaceutical opioid use.
A federally-funded study in 2023 found that cannabis was significantly associated with a decrease in opioid need among users without prescriptions, suggesting that expanded access to legal cannabis could be a safer alternative.Another study published the same year found that legal access to CBD products led to a significant drop in opioid prescriptions – with decreases ranging from 6.6% to 8.1% depending on the state.

Cannabis as a substitute for hard drugs?

Yet another study linked the use of medical cannabis to reduced pain and less dependence on opioids and other prescription drugs. A study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) also showed that chronic pain patients who received medical cannabis for more than a month significantly reduced their use of prescribed opioids.

The AMA has also published data indicating that around one in three chronic pain patients use cannabis as a therapeutic option – and that the majority use it as a substitute for other pain medications, including opioids.
Across the US states, cannabis legalization is also associated with a sharp drop in prescriptions for codeine, an opioid in particular, according to a study based on Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) data.

Another study, published in 2022, also showed that allowing patients legal access to medical cannabis helped them to reduce or even stop using opioid painkillers, without any deterioration in their quality of life.
Finally, there is no shortage of testimonials, data-driven studies and observational analyses to show that some people use cannabis as an alternative to traditional pharmaceutical medicines, such as opioid painkillers or sleeping pills.

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Pedro Winter on the cover of Zeweed magazine

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On the front page of this 10th edition, printed on hemp paper: Pedro Winter, the king of the French touch recounts 30 years of parties and career, USA: Gummies, the boom in candy that makes you laugh. Eric Piolle, mayor of Grenoble and fervent advocate of legalization, Dominique Nora, how to treat yourself with psychedelics, Oxmo Puccino, Gilbert Sheldon, our 100% Flower Power folio by photographers Pierre et Gilles… not forgetting Patrick Eudeline‘s chronicles, Simon Liberati and Vincent Ravalec‘s comic strip, our trial/crash test for a tobacco-free November, lots of good deals until 2026… and of course our editorial, here exclusively.

Every issue of the magazine you’re holding in your hands has its genesis in an editorial conference. While these have often been jovial affairs, in early September, I wanted to make this one of the most sober of editorial conferences. While most of your favorite canard’s finest pens are lamenting the situation, at the end of the table, a hoarse voice topped by a Ray Ban cuts short the debate with a definitive ” Guys, 40 years ago, real rock was lived without alcohol or drugs “. In less than 5 seconds, Patrick Eudeline, the most elegantly damaged dandy in Paris, had just sold me six pages on the straight edge movement, those abstinent hardcore punks, and in the process gave me the driver for this issue 10, which celebrates life without artifice.
Like that of Pedro Winter (our interview pp 6-10), who has built a career punctuated by parties and successes over thirty years in monastic sobriety.
Like the works of Pierre et Gilles (our portfolio on pp 48-53): all the settings are real, and each shot is then hand-painted, before being photographed again in large format. Last but not least, without artifice, like hemp, a miraculous plant for which no other natural resource can boast such versatility and ecological compatibility. Diabolized for four decades to serve the interests of the chemical and oil industries, this blessing of the plant world is finally being rehabilitated: construction, food, health, well-being, textiles, hemp is everywhere… and even in publishing. Zeweed has therefore chosen to immortalize the work of Pierre et Gilles on a cover made from hemp paper, manufactured in Germany, the first major European country to legalize cannabis. Nature’s way of doing things.  

Enjoy your reading!

Alexis Lemoine
Editor-in-Chief

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Green and virtuous: how THC drinks are replacing alcohol.

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A recent survey of consumers of THC-infused cannabis beverages reveals that almost 80% of them claim to have reduced their alcohol consumption – and more than a fifth to avoid it altogether. These figures fuel the debate on the potential substitutive effect of cannabis for alcohol.

A near-majority cut back on alcohol after switching to THC drinks

According to the exclusive survey shared with Marijuana Moment, 77% of those surveyed claim to have reduced their alcohol intake since consuming THC drinks, and 21% even claim to have stopped drinking altogether.
The survey, conducted by THC beverage company Crescent Canna among 1,066 adults aged 21 and over, reveals several striking trends.
Among respondents :

  • More than one in three drinks at least one THC beverage a week, and 45% drink at least three. 
  • 67% also use other cannabis products on a weekly basis, while a third use them less regularly, if at all;
  • the vast majority (67%) prefer to consume these drinks at home, and only 14% in social settings (clubs), 6% at parties, 3% at festivals;
  • 68% of participants say they buy their THC drinks online

Motivations are varied: 78% simply want to relax, while 64% enjoy the sensations provided. More than half mention avoiding hangovers and the negative effects of alcohol, while 51% say these drinks help them sleep better.

User profiles: mature adults and hybrid uses

Against all preconceived ideas, the survey shows that it’s not just young people who are turning to these drinks: the 35-54 age group is the most numerous (53%). What’s more, more than a third of users are over 55.
Many of these users combine THC drinks with other forms of cannabis, but in some cases, drinks become a preferred route, whether for discretion, ease of use or to limit alcohol in a social context.
The survey is part of a wider trend observed among young people: according to other surveys, many millennials and members of Generation Z now prefer THC drinks to alcoholic afterworks.

Substitution: opportunity or precaution?

These results support the hypothesis of a substitutive effect of cannabis on alcohol: consumers clearly state that the introduction of THC drinks has led them to drink less or more at all.
However, several caveats deserve attention: the survey is based on self-reports, with possible biases (recall, social desirability…). No rigorous clinical protocol is cited here, and direct causality (THC causing cessation of alcohol use) cannot be demonstrated.
Moreover, the question of long-term use, mental health effects or dependence remains unanswered. However, current results suggest that this avenue should be explored in the context of reducing the harm associated with alcoholism, particularly for those seeking less harmful alternatives.

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Spain legalizes medical cannabis

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Today, Tuesday October 7, 2025, the Spanish Council of Ministers passed a royal decree legalizing therapeutic cannabis in the Iberian Peninsula. Standardized cannabis-based magistral formulas may be prescribed. However, their dispensing will be subject to strict controls.

The aim of the reform is to offer an alternative treatment option for patients who have failed to respond to conventional therapies. The conditions targeted include chronic refractory pain, severe epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

Narrow frame

Under the terms of the decree, only specialist doctors will be authorized to prescribe these preparations. Preparations will have to be produced and delivered in hospitals. Each patient receiving cannabinoid treatment must be accompanied by a monthly medical follow-up. Cannabis flowers will not be included in the decree’s galenic range – only extracted and standardized forms (oils and capsules), registered with AEMPS (Spain’s national medicines agency), will be allowed.
The aim is to insert cannabis-derived products into a highly controlled pharmaceutical circuit, without for the moment opening the door to dispensing these treatments in “classic” pharmacies.

Evolving regulations

The decree does not, however, freeze the framework for prescriptions: it adopts an evolutionary model, based on scientific data. In three months’ time, AEMPS will publish a circular further specifying clinical uses, formulation protocols and prescribing conditions. These texts will form part of the National Formulary, and will be regularly updated in line with feedback from patients and practitioners.
A flexible approach that reflects the Spanish government’s desire to anticipate – subject to reliable studies – an opening-up of prescriptions beyond the pathologies initially selected.

Traceability and fair access

A public register managed by AEMPS will guarantee the transparency of deliveries: each preparation will state its exact THC and CBD composition, comply with rigorous manufacturing standards, and be subject to ongoing pharmacovigilance. Laboratories will be required to produce rigorous documentation and quality audits of preparations in the event of a control by .
Access to green medicine is intended to be flexible in certain cases: in remote areas or for vulnerable patients, remote dispensing methods may be authorized by regional health authorities.
Spain today joins the cohort of European states that have already approved the medical use of cannabis for medicinal purposes. Of the 27 member states of the European Union, only Estonia, Hungary and France have not yet legalized medical cannabis.  

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Study: cannabis, a powerful ally in curbing the opioid crisis in the USA.

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Cannabis, opioid crisis

A study led by Columbia University’s School of Public Health looked at the impact of cannabis on opioid use in states that have legalized weed, concluding that it can be useful in the fight against opioid addiction, but only among regular marijuana users. Explanations

Published in theInternational Journal of Drug Policy, the study reveals a decrease in problematic opioid use among cannabis users after the introduction of medical cannabis laws. However, these decreases were not observed when laws combining medical and recreational use were adopted.

By the end of 2019, 32 states had legalized access to medical cannabis. All those that went on to legislate recreational use had first regulated medical use. Using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2015 to 2019, researchers assessed the links between these legislations and problematic opioid use (prescription detour or heroin use).

A nuance for regular users

Of the nearly 283,000 participants, 4% reported diverted opioid use in the past year, while 1.3% reported use in the previous month. Three percent met the DSM-IV criteria for an opioid use disorder. However, these figures rose among cannabis users, with 15% reporting opioid misuse or an associated disorder.

“Our study is the first to explore the impact of cannabis laws on opioid-related outcomes among regular cannabis users, particularly those who started before the laws were passed in their state,” explains Silvia Martins, Professor of Epidemiology at Columbia.

In states that have legalized medical use only, the study found a modest decline in some opioid-related indicators among cannabis users. However, this trend was not confirmed in states that had also legalized recreational use. “Medical cannabis laws appear to be associated with a decrease in opioid use among cannabis users, but more research is needed to confirm these findings,” Martins adds.

Vigilance still required

Overall, the adoption of medical or recreational laws has not led to significant changes in opioid use or abuse in the general population. However, among regular cannabis users, reductions in some indicators were seen, but only in states that legalized medical use.

For Sylvia Martins, these results underline the need for constant monitoring. “The small number of states that have passed laws combining medical and recreational use, as well as their recent implementation, limit our analyses. With more data and hindsight, the impact could become clearer,” she concludes. She also calls for close exploration of opioid use among those who obtain cannabis via medical or recreational dispensaries.

While the promise of reducing the opioid crisis still seems timid, the study calls for further research to unravel the links between public policy, cannabis and public health.

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Cannabis, the great hope for back pain relief.

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An international clinical trial published in the highly respected journal Nature Medicine reveals that therapeutic cannabis significantly reduces pain in patients suffering from chronic low-back pain. While the study’s safety signal points to no risk of dependence or abuse, patients in France may have to wait a long time for access to the drug.

The double-blind study confirms what had already been demonstrated: cannabis is an excellent analgesic, with the great advantage of not creating physical dependence, and with few side effects (unlike morphine, codeine or cortizone). What’s new is that it is particularly effective in the treatment of chronic low-back pain. For the record, lumbago is a pathology that affects 4 out of 5 French people at some point in their lives. That’s 40 to 45 million French people. According to Santé Publique France, chronic low-back pain affects 7 to 10% of people suffering from low-back pain. That’s 2.4 to 3.4 million French people. As for the cost of low back pain to companies , according to the Assurance Maladie, this amounts to 1 billion euros.

The study 

The VER-01 clinical trial involved 820 patients with chronic low-back pain, divided into two groups: one receiving a standardized cannabis extract, the other a placebo. After twelve weeks, pain decreased by an average of 1.9 points in the treated group, compared with 1.4 points in the placebo group. While the difference may seem small, it was found to be statistically significant. After six months, participants taking the extract reported that their pain had decreased by 2.9 points. Participants also reported improved sleep, mobility and quality of life.

The drug

The product tested, called VER-01, is a pharmaceutical extract from a patented strain of Cannabis sativa. It contains 5% THC, the main psychoactive cannabinoid, at 2.5 milligrams per dose, with low concentrations of other natural plant compounds. Treatment is gradually adjusted according to patient tolerance, up to ten doses a day.

Unlike smoked cannabis or home-made preparations, VER-01 is a controlled, standardized drug designed for strictly medical use. The adverse effects observed – dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, nausea – were mostly mild and transient. No signs of abuse, dependence or withdrawal were detected, according to the assessment tools used.

Therapeutic cannabis: the French exception

 The French medical cannabis experiment, which began in 2021 and was to last just two years, has officially come to an end at the end of 2024. To avoid a break in treatment, the 1,683 patients still included in the experiment will be able to continue to benefit from trherapeutic cannabis until March 2026. Since March 2025, the French National Authority for Health (HAS) has been evaluating cannabis-based medicines authorized by the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM). This evaluation will determine whether they can be registered under common law and reimbursed by the French health insurance system.

For the time being, only a few indications are recognized: resistant neuropathic pain, certain forms of epilepsy, spasticity linked to multiple sclerosis and palliative care. Chronic low back pain, one of the most common conditions, is not on the list.

In a therapeutic landscape where non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are showing their limitations and opioids are in retreat, the idea of a scientifically validated non-opioid analgesic is attracting growing interest. The results of the VER-01 trial do not constitute a revolution, but they provide a solid signal that medical cannabis could, in time, find its place in the treatment of chronic back pain.
However, France, often slow to integrate these innovations, must agree to draw the necessary conclusions.

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Canada: What impact has legalization had on alcohol sales?

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When Canada legalized cannabis, most provinces refused to allow liquor stores to sell weed as well. The aim: to prevent beer lovers from becoming pot smokers. But the figures tell a more complex story.Some studies carried out before legalization showed that the therapeutic use of cannabis could slightly reduce alcohol consumption. What has happened since the introduction of recreational cannabis?

Alcohol sales stable overall

Between 2004 and 2022, overall alcohol sales in Canada changed little. Beer lost ground, but ready-to-drink and other spirits made up for the drop. Total volume sold therefore remained relatively constant.In other words, Canadians seem to have traded in the pint for more sophisticated blends – but without reducing their overall consumption. Nothing in this dynamic seems to be linked to the legalization of cannabis in 2018.When analyzing monthly sales over the 12 months leading up to and following October 2018, at both brewers and alcohol retailers, no major variations stand out. The expected shock didn’t happen – at least on a national scale.

Nova Scotia: an instructive exception

To detect more subtle effects, the researchers set their sights on Nova Scotia, a province that went it alone with legalization.
Unlike most other provinces, it has allowed its liquor board – the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation – to sell cannabis too. As of October 2018, some branches added weed to their catalog. Others remained faithful to alcohol only.This breakdown offered a unique observation ground. For 17 months before and 17 months after legalization, researchers dissected the figures.
The result: a marked contrast. Overall, alcohol sales fell sharply in October 2018, then recovered slightly without regaining their initial level. The average monthly decline amounts to around 500,000 Canadian dollars.

CAD$800,000 monthly loss for liquor-only stores

In stores selling only alcohol, the plunge is even sharper: a monthly loss of 800,000 Canadian dollars. But in stores selling both alcohol and cannabis, alcohol sales rose by $300,000 a month after legalization.Beer seems to be the most affected by these changes, more so than wine or spirits.Another interesting detail: liquor stores that remained “cannabis-free” saw their sales decline, even when they were close to a cannabis outlet. This suggests that it’s not geographical proximity that counts, but the ability to buy alcohol and cannabis in the same place.

Substitution or a shift in habits?

It’s hard to say. The data do not allow for a definitive reading, but they do open the way to several interpretations.First hypothesis: some customers replaced alcohol with cannabis as soon as it became legally available.Second scenario: consumers did not reduce their consumption, but simply changed their place of purchase, preferring stores that offered both products.Third reading: the gradual increase in sales in mixed branches may reflect a transfer from the black to the legal market. The possibility of buying both substances in one and the same place therefore seems to play a role, if not explain the whole trend.

“Time will tell

The study ends in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts consumption patterns. The authors plan to examine the effects in the longer term, once cannabis sales have reached maturity.
But there’s a major problem: the pandemic has greatly disrupted the alcohol market, without affecting the cannabis market in the same way. It is therefore difficult to clearly attribute future developments to legalization alone.The legalization of cannabis did not trigger an immediate revolution in alcohol consumption habits. However, in certain specific cases – such as Nova Scotia – it has altered the balance of trade, if not individual behavior, creating a cocktail whose effects are still uncertain, and which should be enjoyed with caution.

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