What medicinal cannabis products are available in Australia?
In Australia, legally produced medicinal cannabis products fall into two categories – approved and unapproved. Both categories are only available through a medical practitioner.
Approved medicinal cannabis products are registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and have been assessed for quality, safety and effectiveness by the TGA.
There are only two approved products currently available in Australia:
- nabiximols (brand name Sativex) which contains THC and CBD. Used to treat spasticity in people with MS
- cannabidiol (brand name Epidyolex) which is a CBD-only oil preparation. Used with other epilepsy drugs to treat severe and rare forms of epilepsy in children aged two years and over.
Unapproved medicinal cannabis products can be accessed by registered medical practitioners through the TGA’s access pathways, outlined below.
| Special Access Scheme (SAS) |
For supplying unapproved therapeutic goods for a single patient. · SAS category A: for patients who are seriously ill and death is likely to occur · SAS category B: for all other patients who do not fit SAS-A definitions. This is the most common path for prescribing medicinal cannabis in Australia. |
|---|---|
| Authorised Prescriber Scheme (APS) | Medical practitioners are granted authority to prescribe unapproved therapeutic goods to multiple patients with a specific medical condition, such as paediatric epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and palliative care. |
A list of manufacturers and suppliers of medicinal cannabis products is available here.
If you’re interested in medicinal cannabis products for an existing medical condition, the first step is to talk with your GP or specialist.
If your doctor believes medicinal cannabis treatment is clinically appropriate, they can apply online to the TGA and approval usually takes 24-48 hours.2
Once approved, your doctor completes a prescription that can be filled and dispensed at an authorised pharmacy.
Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe medicinal cannabis for their patients. This may be because they feel uncertain about how to apply to access it, the supporting evidence and/or the different products available.2
Each state and territory has different laws and regulations about accessing medicinal cannabis products,2 so your prescribing doctor should check your state or territory’s health department requirements.2
Access clinics are another option. These clinics are staffed by registered Australian doctors who specialise in treating patients with medicinal cannabis. Many of these clinics provide both in-clinic and telehealth services that can be accessed through their websites.
List of cannabis access clinics around Australia.
You may also be able to access medicinal cannabis products through a clinical trial, if your condition is currently being studied and you meet the study inclusion criteria.
Information about current and upcoming clinical trials can be found on the Australian Clinical Trials webpage.
It’s important to note that one of the biggest barriers to accessing medicinal cannabis products is the cost.3 There’s currently no subsidy available for medicinal cannabis products under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The high price of medicinal cannabis products makes them out of reach for many people.
The Australian Pain Management Association reports patients paying $300 -$500 for initial appointments, and Painaustralia reports people with chronic pain pay around $350 per month for their medicinal cannabis treatment.4,5
How do people take medicinal cannabis products?
More than 100 different medicinal cannabis products are available in Australia.
They can be prepared and taken in a range of ways including vaporising, oils and liquid capsules, oro-mucosal sprays (under the tongue), or topically (applied to the skin).
Each delivery method has benefits and drawbacks – as shown in the table below.
| Oral oils and liquid capsules | Most commonly prescribed method in Australia (approx. 80%). Slow onset (30-60 minutes); long duration (8-24 hours).[11] |
|---|---|
| Vaporising | No vaporisers are currently TGA approved. Very rapid onset (90 seconds); short duration (2-4 hours) – may be useful when immediate effects are required.[11] |
| Oro-mucosal sprays | Slow onset (90 minutes); long duration (8-24 hours).[11] |
| Topical | More research is required. THC appears poorly absorbed via skin; CBD appears to be better absorbed. The onset and duration of effects is unknown.[11] |
Smoking medicinal cannabis products is not supported by the TGA. Smoking of any kind can damage the lungs and increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and other health conditions.11
- Therapeutic Goods Administration. Guidance for the use of medicincal cannabis in Australia: Overview. Australian Government Department of Health; 2017.
- Arnold JC, Nation T, McGregor IS. Prescribing medicinal cannabis. Aust Prescr. 2020;43(5):152-9.
- Senate Standing Committee. Parliament of Australia. Current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia 2020.
- Pain Australia. Proposed amendments to the poisons standard – down-scheduling of cannabidiol (cbd) [Accessed 26 August 2021].
- Australian Pain Management Association. Submission to the Inquiry into the current barriers to patient access to medicinal cannabis in Australia. 2020. Contract No.: 26 August 2021.