THCA legal in France in 2026: what does the regulation actually say?

French regulations concerning THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) require precise explanation, as much incorrect information still circulates on the Internet.

On May 22, 2024, the ANSM adopted a decision classifying several cannabinoids and a generic family of substances derived from the benzo[c]chromene nucleus as narcotics.

This initial draft could notably concern THCA.

However, the ANSM modified this decision on June 3, 2024 in order to explicitly exclude THCA from the generic classification, subject to compliance with the content provided for by the decree of December 30, 2021 relating to hemp.

This exclusion from THCA was subsequently explicitly recalled by the Council of State in its decision of June 6, 2025.

Therefore, it is incorrect to simply state:

"THCA has been banned in France since June 2024."

The regulation adopted in June 2024 provides, on the contrary, for an exception concerning THCA, with a condition relating to the THC content.

Why was THCA excluded?

THCA is naturally likely to be present in Cannabis sativa L.

It also constitutes the acidic precursor of THC.

The Council of State points out that THCA can be transformed into THC under the effect of heat through a phenomenon called decarboxylation.

This peculiarity explains why the regulation cannot be understood solely by looking separately at a "delta-9-THC" line and a "THCA" line.

THCA and the 0.3% threshold: a crucial distinction

The French decree of December 30, 2021 sets the maximum delta-9-THC content applicable to authorized varieties of Cannabis sativa L., as well as to hemp extracts and products incorporating them under the conditions provided for in the text, at 0.3%

However, in the case of THCA, a fundamental analytical characteristic must be taken into account:

THCA can be converted into THC.

The Council of State specifically addressed this issue in 2025.

He points out that the method used to determine the THC content of authorized cannabis varieties involves heating the samples and thus measures the total THC content, taking into account the THC initially present in the form of THCA.

He also specifies that analytical methods in accordance with applicable guidelines take into account the risk of THCA decarboxylation in order to determine the total potential THC content.

This concept is fundamental to understanding French THCA regulations.

Is THCA banned in France?

It is incorrect to claim that THCA was outright banned by the ANSM in June 2024.

The decision of June 3, 2024 specifically modified that of May 22 in order to exclude THCA from the generic classification, subject to compliance with the content condition provided for by the decree of December 30, 2021.

Therefore, a distinction must be made:

THCA as a molecule naturally likely to be present in hemp-derived products

And

products with high concentrations of THCA whose compliance must be assessed taking into account, in particular, their total THC potential.

This distinction is essential.

Legal THCA = no limits?

No.

The exclusion of THCA from the generic classification does not mean that any product containing any concentration of THCA can automatically be marketed in France.

Compliance with regulatory requirements remains essential.

In particular, the chemical relationship must be taken into account:

THCA → THC

and how the total potential THC content is determined analytically.

Is a THCA flower automatically legal?

No.

Simply using the trade name "THCA flower" does not allow for determining the conformity of the product.

It is necessary to examine its analysis and in particular the relevant concentrations of cannabinoids as well as the total THC potential determined according to the applicable method.

Two flowers bearing the designation "THCA" can have very different analytical profiles.

THCA 90%: is it automatically legal?

Neither.

The regulatory exclusion of THCA does not automatically mean that a formulation advertised as containing 90% THCA complies with French law.

Such a high concentration must be analyzed taking into account the applicable regulatory framework and the potential for THCA to be converted into THC.

It would therefore be excessive to write:

"THCA 90% = automatically banned"

but also:

"THCA 90% = totally legal because THCA is not prohibited.".

Conformity must be assessed based on the actual composition of the product and the applicable analytical methods.

THCA and Total THC

The concept of Total THC is particularly important for understanding this regulation.

THCA has a higher molecular mass than THC because it loses CO₂ during its decarboxylation.

This is why analyses generally use a conversion factor when assessing the total THC potential.

This approach allows us to take into account:

the THC already present

And

THC may result from THCA.

For products with high concentrations of THCA, this distinction obviously becomes essential.

Can we say that THCA is legal in France?

A more rigorous formulation for a French shop would be:

"THCA has been explicitly excluded by the ANSM from the generic classification adopted in 2024, subject to compliance with the conditions relating to THC content stipulated by the French regulations applicable to hemp."

This sentence is much more accurate than:

"THCA is banned in France"

but also more rigorous than:

"THCA is 100% legal in France.".

Legality must always be assessed at the level of the product actually marketed, its composition and its analysis.

FAQ – THCA and French legislation

Did the ANSM ban THCA in June 2024?

No, this presentation is incomplete. Following its initial decision of May 22, 2024, the ANSM adopted an amendment on June 3, 2024 explicitly excluding THCA from the generic classification, subject to compliance with the condition relating to the content provided for by the regulations applicable to hemp.

Why do we still read that THCA was banned in 2024?

Part of the confusion probably stems from the initial decision of May 22, 2024 and content published before or without taking into account its amendment of June 3, 2024.

Has the Council of State upheld this exclusion?

Yes. In its decision of June 6, 2025, the Council of State explicitly recalls that the decision of June 3, 2024 excluded THCA from the classification concerned subject to compliance with the applicable regulatory content.

Is THCA therefore completely unrestricted in France?

No. Its exclusion from the generic classification does not mean that all products with high THCA concentrations are automatically compliant.

Why do we talk about Total THC?

Because THCA can be converted into THC when heated, analytical methods can therefore account for the THC potentially resulting from the decarboxylation of THCA.

Does the 0.3% threshold only apply to THC already present?

The issue is more complex in the case of THCA. The Council of State has expressly stated that the relevant analytical methods take into account the potential conversion of THCA into THC.

Is vaping with 90% THCA automatically prohibited?

This conclusion cannot be drawn solely from the stated percentage. Nor can such a product be automatically considered compliant simply because THCA benefits from the exclusion introduced on June 3, 2024. The composition and potential total THC content must be examined in light of the applicable regulations.

Can we write "THCA legal in France" on a product information sheet?

A conditional formulation is preferable. While THCA is indeed excluded from the generic classification, this exclusion is subject to a regulatory condition regarding THC content. Therefore, compliance must be assessed on a product-by-product basis.

Key points to remember about THCA in France

The essential point is ultimately quite simple:

May 22, 2024: ANSM adopts a decision classifying several cannabinoids and a generic family of substances.

June 3, 2024: this decision is modified in order to exclude THCA from the generic classification, subject to a condition linked to the regulatory THC content.

June 6, 2025: The Council of State explicitly confirms this situation and provides important clarifications regarding the consideration of THCA decarboxylation in the determination of the total potential THC content.

It is therefore incorrect to present THCA as a substance that has simply been "banned in France since June 2024".

But its exclusion should not be transformed into an assertion that all THCA products, regardless of their concentration, would automatically be legal in France.

For The French Hemp Empire, the most serious presentation consists of explaining this nuance and favoring an approach based on product analysis, its actual composition and the applicable regulatory conditions.

Scientific and regulatory sources on THCA

THCA, or tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a biosynthetic precursor of THC. Its structure and main properties are presented in the delta-9-THCA scientific datasheet published in PubChem.

To compare the two molecules, also consult the PubChem scientific sheet for tetrahydrocannabinol.

In France, the regulatory treatment of THCA should not be based solely on its acidic state. See the Council of State's decision of June 6, 2025, concerning the measurement of total THC.

The official method of control and the threshold applicable to hemp varieties are described in the decree of December 30, 2021 published on Légifrance.

The key differences between cannabidiol and THC are also presented on the official French Government page dedicated to CBD.

For the latest European trends and data, please refer to the EUDA 2026 European Cannabis Report.

Key point: THCA can be converted into THC when heated. Therefore, simply meeting a limit based solely on delta-9-THC measured before decarboxylation is not necessarily sufficient to establish a product's compliance.