Medicinal cannabis: Information for patients

So you’ve heard about medicinal cannabis.

Maybe you’re wondering if it's right for your condition.

Speak to your doctor about your health concerns.

Your doctor will consider treatment options...

and they may decide that a medicinal cannabis product is suitable for your needs.

Most medicinal cannabis products are not approved medicines in Australia.

This means the Therapeutic Goods Administration (or TGA) has not assessed them for safety, quality or effectiveness.

But sometimes there are no approved medicines that meet a patient’s needs.

That’s why any doctor can apply to the TGA for special access to unapproved medicines such as medicinal cannabis.

They’ll hear back within two business days.

Some doctors have applied to become Authorised Prescribers, which means they don’t need approval from the TGA for each individual patient.

If your doctor gives you a prescription for a medicinal cannabis product, you will need to take it to a pharmacy.

Medicinal cannabis products aren’t stocked in most pharmacies, so your pharmacist may need to order it in.

You should also know that medicinal cannabis products are not subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; the supplier sets the cost.

Beware of buying online.

You could break the law and get an unsafe product.

Legal access to medicinal cannabis means getting a prescription from your doctor and filling the prescription at your pharmacy.

If you have any questions, speak with your doctor.

You can also find out more on the TGA website.