Medical Cannabis In Australia

In Australia, medicinal cannabis products are legal, high-quality medicines that must be prescribed for patients by their doctor. Medicinal cannabis is a derivative of the cannabis plant commonly known as marijuana or ganja, which has proven to be efficacious in the treatment of symptoms stemming from a variety of medical conditions, as well as helping to alleviate the negative side effects of certain other medical treatments.

There are a number of different medicinal cannabis products available that vary depending on the symptoms or conditions that need to be treated. Your doctor will first assess your needs, make a decision about what the appropriate medicinal cannabis product is for you, then make arrangements for you to pick up your medications at a medical cannabis clinic. The majority of cannabis products are made available only through import, but more locally made products are expected to come onto the market as the Australian medicinal cannabis industry grows more established.

The active ingredients in medicinal cannabis are called ‘cannabinoids’, and there are between 80 and 100 cannabinoids in all. Researchers are still in the process of investigating how they all actually work. Currently most medicinal cannabis products contain the cannabinoids cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Note that CBD has no psychoactive effects, whereas THC is a mild euphoric that is responsible for the famed ‘high’ that recreational users sing the praises of. While most medicines are comprised of CBD, there is an entourage effect when combined with THC that can produce more beneficial results, if the patient isn’t put off by an unusual sense of well-being and the sudden desire to order pizza at odd hours.

So, what conditions can medicinal cannabis be used to treat? There is clear evidence that certain medicinal cannabis products are useful in treating the following conditions:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Glaucoma
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Epilepsy
• Nausea
• Pain
• Loss of appetite

Basically all of the side effects associated with cancer and cancer treatments.

A doctor or specialist has the ability to apply to the government for approval to prescribe medicinal cannabis for nearly any medical condition, but the physician may be required to provide specific evidence that demonstrates that medicinal cannabis might be effective for the particular condition that is being treated. The Office of Medicinal Cannabis can provide further information and resources to help support the medical professionals prescribing medicinal cannabis, and to answer any questions the public may have. 

As a patient you can currently only access legal medicinal cannabis products under the auspices of your treating doctor or specialist.