Whether for cancer, heavy neurological disease or chronic illnesses, the effectiveness of cannabis in palliative or supportive care in the management of pain no longer needs to be demonstrated.
In the context of overall pain management, that doesn't mean it's exclusive," says Eric Parrat, president of the Honea association. For us, it's a therapeutic arsenal that will bring us additional answers to offer patients who are currently asking us for them."
All the more so as, in the absence of regulations, some patients obtain their products on the black market.
"This is one of the problems we face: patients come in and already have a treatment that they are taking themselves, and they ask us to set it up officially at the hospital. Today, this is impossible because it's forbidden.
To gain access to it within a legal framework, the association defends the interest of developing an economic and social sector. "Cannabis is available here, and we'd like to be able to develop it at home for our patients.
Creating wealth locally is another ambition of the hemp union. But according to its president Philippe Cathelain, it's the export of cannabis that could add to the country's coffers: "There's a market share to be taken from opiates and less dependence on imports."
That's why the syndicate believes it's a good idea to concentrate on flower cultivation alone. They require less land and produce CBD with a high THC content. These levels are likely to be of interest to laboratories for the manufacture of medicines.
"For the medical side, we'll be looking at both molecules, CBD and THC. For the moment, there are no local medicines available. Initially, we'll be importing, but in the short term, the aim is to replace imports. This means developing a production chain for cannabis for medical use.
In addition to exporting raw materials, the union dreams of further developing the industry with a Polynesian pharmaceutical laboratory capable of designing its own medicines. "The ultimate goal is to create a laboratory here in Tahiti, so that we are no longer obliged to export our raw materials, but can supply this pharmaceutical laboratory to manufacture our own medicines.
Another market up for grabs is that of well-being, thanks to CBD-enriched oils.
For Olivier Touboul, Director of the South Pacific Cosmetology Laboratory, "there is market potential, especially if we can trace our raw materials. The advantage is that we're a small country, which means we can trace our plants better. This could be a plus for us on the market because today, brands are very demanding in terms of price and quality, but also in terms of traceability, to be sure that the raw material really does come from the geography they say it does."
With its new unit acquired in 2023, the cosmetology laboratory is now capable of extracting CBD. Proof that manufacturers are ready. Provided they have a clear legal framework.