Medicinal Cannabis in Australia

🌿 What medicinal cannabis actually is

Medicinal cannabis products contain two main active ingredients from the cannabis plant:

• CBD (cannabidiol) — non-intoxicating. Doesn't make you "high". Products with only CBD are usually Schedule 4 (prescription medicine).
• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the ingredient that causes intoxication. Products with more than 2% THC are Schedule 8 ("drugs of dependence") and have stricter prescribing rules.

Products come as oils, capsules, sprays, dried flower (for vaporising), and lozenges. Very few medicinal cannabis products are formally approved by the TGA — most are accessed as "unapproved products" through specific pathways below.

👩‍⚕️ Who can prescribe it

Any registered doctor in Australia can prescribe medicinal cannabis — no specialist accreditation is needed. This includes your GP.

But in practice, many GPs don't prescribe it. Reasons include:

• The paperwork per prescription (a TGA application) takes time.
• Limited familiarity with the products, doses, and interactions.
• Concerns about the strength of evidence for some conditions.
• State-based extra requirements (e.g., in Victoria, prescribing Schedule 8 cannabis needs a state treatment permit).

Nurse practitioners can also prescribe within their scope of practice. For paediatric patients (under 18) with THC-containing products, a specialist (not a GP) is usually needed.

📋 What conditions doctors consider it for

There are no restrictions on the medical conditions a doctor may apply to prescribe medicinal cannabis for. In practice, the most common approvals are for:

• Chronic pain (the largest category by far)
• Cancer-related symptoms — pain, nausea, poor appetite
• Anxiety (usually CBD-only products)
• Epilepsy (particularly some treatment-resistant childhood forms)
• Insomnia
• Multiple sclerosis — muscle spasticity and pain
• Neuropathic pain

🔑 How access actually works

Two main pathways your doctor uses to prescribe unapproved medicinal cannabis products:

• Special Access Scheme Category B (SAS-B): Your doctor submits a per-patient application to the TGA before you start. Usually processed within about 2 business days when complete. Free to apply. The vast majority are approved.
• Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme: Doctors who prescribe medicinal cannabis regularly can apply for broader authority — approvals last up to 5 years and cover a class of patients, not one at a time. Faster in practice once the doctor has the authority.

State approvals may also be needed for THC-containing (Schedule 8) products — for example, a Schedule 8 treatment permit in Victoria. The TGA online system handles both federal and most state approvals in one form.

💰 What it costs

• Not on the PBS. You pay full retail — often $100–$400+ per month depending on product, dose, and clinic fees.
• Not covered by private health insurance in most cases.
• Some dedicated cannabis clinics charge consultation fees on top of the medication cost — anywhere from $79 to $250+ per visit. Medicare rebates may apply for the consultation itself but not the product.
• DVA Gold and White card holders may have some cover depending on the condition — ask your GP or the DVA.

↪️ What to do if your GP doesn't prescribe

This is the most common situation. Your GP can:

• Refer you to a dedicated medicinal cannabis clinic — several Australia-wide clinics focus specifically on medicinal cannabis and handle the TGA paperwork routinely. Many offer telehealth Australia-wide. Search "medicinal cannabis clinic Australia" for options.
• Refer you to a specialist (pain specialist, neurologist, palliative care, psychiatrist) with an interest in cannabis prescribing.
• Refer to another local GP who does prescribe — some GPs in every region have made this part of their practice.

Don't feel it's a rejection if your regular GP doesn't prescribe — many doctors focus on the areas they know best. Being referred to someone who prescribes medicinal cannabis every week is often better care than being prescribed by someone who does it rarely.