![]() It is unclear to what extent this special certification is necessary or how it expedites the process, and at least one estimate states that as much as 98% of cannabis prescriptions are made by regular physicians who are not pre-authorized to recommend cannabis. Physicians who have also received certification as authorized prescribers do not need this approval to gain access. Under Australian law, doctors can apply to the TGA’s “special access scheme,” to gain access to unapproved medicine like cannabis. Medicinal cannabis products must be purchased at pharmacies, though they’re often out of stock and must be ordered. Patients who want access to these medicines can import them from Canada or Europe, including cannabis flower for vaping, oils, liquids, and oral sprays. ![]() This also means that the TGA has not accessed these medicines for their safety, quality, or effectiveness. No cannabis products are subsidized through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and the price is set by the supplier. How to get medical marijuana in AustraliaĪustralia’s medical cannabis program is run by the country’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), though patients can only gain access through a registered healthcare practitioner.Īccording to the Commonwealth Department of Health, Nabiximols (a cannabinoid spray marketed as Sativex) is the only cannabis product that is considered a registered medicine in the country. And while voters in nearby New Zealand voted down a legalization initiative in late 2020, the cause of cannabis reform in the region is clearly gaining prominence. The country legalized medical cannabis in 2016, but patients in the country have long criticized the program as too restrictive, and access to cannabis-based medicines remains behind that of many other legal cannabis jurisdictions.Ī major move in the direction of legalization took place in September 2019, when the Australian Capital Territory legalized cannabis possession (up to 50 grams) and the cultivation of up to two cannabis plants. This represents nearly double the level of support found in a 2007 survey (21%). Furthermore, regardless of the legal status of the plant in Australia, it is by far the most popular illicit drug, and past year use in Australia (10.6 percent) remains far higher than the world average (3.9 percent), according to the United Nations World Drug Report for 2020.In addition, a survey published in July 2020 found that 41% of Australians support cannabis legalization, and 37% are opposed.
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