THC, delta-9, THCA, HHC: understanding cannabinoids in France

THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid of Cannabis sativa L., discovered and isolated in 1964 by Raphael Mechoulam. It acts on the CB1 receptors of the endocannabinoid system, present at high density in the central nervous system. It is this interaction that produces the effects of intoxication: euphoria, altered perception, impaired coordination, disruption of short-term memory.

THC is classified as a narcotic under the order of 22 February 1990, its possession and marketing being punishable under the Public Health Code. Two exceptions exist: CBD products with a content less than or equal to 0.30% THC in the finished product, legalised by the Conseil d'État decision of 29 December 2022, and medical cannabis, dispensed exclusively on hospital prescription since March 2025.

This threshold applies to the finished product, measured by chromatography in an accredited laboratory, and not to the plant before processing. Many articles continue to cite an old threshold of 0.2%, now obsolete. The reference applicable since 2021, confirmed by the Cour de cassation rulings of 14 January 2025, remains 0.30% THC in the finished product.

The ANSM carried out a wave of prohibitions of semi-synthetic cannabinoids between 2023 and 2024: HHC and its derivatives HHC-O and HHC-P by order of 11 June 2023, then H4CBD, H2CBD, HHCPO, THCP, THCA and 10-OH-HHC by order of 3 June 2024. These molecules had appeared on the French market from 2022 onwards in regulatory grey areas. Possessing or selling them now exposes you to the criminal penalties for narcotics trafficking.

THCA, the non-psychoactive acid precursor of THC in the fresh plant, converts into active THC under the effect of heat; it has been explicitly classified as a narcotic in France since June 2024. Delta-8-THC, an isomer of delta-9 whose effects are described as milder, has the same legal profile: obtained by chemical conversion of CBD, it is regarded as a synthetic cannabinoid and falls into the prohibited category.

This is the least well understood legal risk. Article L.235-1 of the French Highway Code penalises driving after the use of narcotics, whatever the quantity detected: no tolerance threshold exists. The Cour de cassation, in its ruling of 21 June 2023, held that the commercial lawfulness of a CBD product at 0.30% THC has no bearing on the offence of driving after narcotics use. THC can be detected in saliva 6 to 8 hours after occasional consumption, and longer with regular use. To go further into the question of drug testing, see our guide to THC tests.

The certificate of analysis of a CBD product must always state the THC concentration, expressed as a percentage or in mg/g. Check that total THC remains less than or equal to 0.30% of the finished product, that there are no prohibited cannabinoids, and that an independent accredited laboratory carried out a recent analysis. CBD is not a medicine, and THC is a narcotic: for any medical or legal question, consult a healthcare professional or a specialist lawyer.

How long does THC stay in the body?

It depends on frequency of use: 3 to 30 days in urine, a few hours to a week in blood, 6 to 24 hours in saliva for occasional use, up to 90 days in hair.

Is a CBD oil certified at "0.2% THC" safer?

The applicable legal threshold is 0.30% in the finished product. A product at 0.2% is compliant, but no full-spectrum product guarantees a total absence of THC.

Can a blood test tell CBD and THC apart?

Yes. Standard toxicology analyses look specifically for THC and its metabolites, not for CBD, which does not trigger a positive result for THC.

What is the entourage effect?

It is the hypothesis that cannabinoids act in synergy with the plant's terpenes and flavonoids. It is the subject of research but has not been validated by the health authorities.