Accessing medicinal cannabis

An overview of medical cannabis access for patients and medical professionals.

Any medical doctor can prescribe medicinal cannabis in Australia with approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and the relevant State or Territory’s Health Department.

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Accessing medicinal cannabis in Australia

Who might be eligible for medicinal cannabis?

Patients may be eligible to trial medicinal cannabis if they have a chronic medical condition for which conventional treatments have proven unsuitable. Eligibility also depends on whether there is clinical evidence supporting the use of medicinal cannabis for the specific condition.

Understanding medicinal cannabis in Australia

Most medicinal cannabis products are considered unapproved in Australia because they are not listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). This means they cannot be accessed in the same way as conventional prescription medicines — you can't simply get a script and fill it at a pharmacy.

How to access medicinal cannabis

To ensure safe and appropriate use, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has established special pathways for doctors to prescribe medicinal cannabis where clinically appropriate.

Doctors can access medicinal cannabis for eligible patients through:

  • The Special Access Scheme (SAS)
  • The Authorised Prescriber Scheme

In some cases, doctors may also refer patients to a clinical trial or to another medical practitioner with more experience in prescribing medicinal cannabis.

How doctors apply for medicinal cannabis

Medical practitioners have two main pathways for prescribing unregistered medicines in Australia:

  1. Special Access Scheme (SAS)
    Doctors can apply through the  Special Access Scheme. to prescribe an unregistered medicine for a single patient on a case-by-case basis.
  2. Authorised Prescriber (AP) Scheme
    Doctors can apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to become an Authorised Prescriber. This allows them to prescribe a specific unregistered medicine to a group of patients with the same condition.
    For example, a paediatric neurologist may become an Authorised Prescriber to offer medicinal cannabis products to children with epilepsy.
Access option Description
Special Access Scheme For prescribing medicinal cannabis to a single patient.
Authorised Prescriber For prescribing medicinal cannabis to multiple patients with similar conditions.
Clinical trials Referring the patient to participate in a clinical trial, if one is available.
Shared care Referring the patient to a doctor with more experience prescribing medicinal cannabis.

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Lambert Initiative

Emaillambert.initiative@sydney.edu.au

The Lambert Initiative is located at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre:
94 Mallett Street, Camperdown NSW 2050

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm