Plant Medicine FAQs

 

Is medical cannabis legal?

There are tight restrictions around the manufacture, supply and use of medicinal cannabis within Australia.

At the same time, laws exist to allow the prescribing and dispensing of medical cannabis products under specific circumstances.

For more information, I suggest that you visit the Therapeutic Goods Adminstration (TGA) website for important patient information relating to medical cannabis.

Do you prescribe medicinal cannabis?

One of my aims as a GP is to help patients who have not had any success trying to treat chronic problems with conventional or mainstream medicines.

I will work with you to explore options and determine an appropriate treatment for your conditions and circumstances. This may include medical cannabis therapy or I may suggest that you try other conventional or alternative treatments including diet and lifestyle changes.

Which conditions can be treated with Cannabis based medications?

The TGA lists a total of 29 separate conditions that can be treated with Medicinal Cannabis. I have experience treating a subset of those conditions as listed below:

  • Chronic Pain of any sort

  • Anxiety

  • Cancer symptom management

  • (Chemotherapy-induced) Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)

  • Cancer-related pain

  • Cancer-related Cachexia (Loss of appetite and wasting)

  • Depression

  • Insomnia

  • Neuropathic Pain

  • Osteoarthritis-related pain

  • Palliative Care

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Sleep Disorders (Insomnia)

Other conditions listed by the TGA include:

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • Dementia-related Agitation

  • Epilepsy

  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

  • Multiple Sclerosis

  • Parkinson's Disease

  • Seizure Management

  • Spasticity

  • Spasticity-associated Pain

Are there any hidden costs?

No. I do not charge you anything other than the cost of the consultation.

Can I choose my own medication?

As a guiding principle, I believe that collaborative doctor-patient relationships generally result in the best outcomes. I will always discuss treatment options with you, however, by law, the final decision and responsibility for treatment choices must rest with the doctor.

Do you only prescribe certain brands of medicinal cannabis?

When recommending or prescribing any therapy including medications my primary consideration is what is best for the patient. I have a collection of preferred products that I am familiar but will always be open to discussion as a normal part of the consultation process.

Are Medicinal Cannabis products expensive?

Unlike most other medications, medicinal cannabis based medications are not supported (funded) by the Federal Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme.

Hence medicinal cannabis products are generally more expensive than many other subsidised medications.

Many suppliers have a Compassionate Access Program which enables a supply of some or all of their products at reduced cost.

Do I have to use the pharmacy you recommend?

No. I believe it is your right to choose your own pharmacy.

On the other hand, I do have a list of pharmacies that I generally recommend for reliably accessing specific medications and associated support but you are not obliged to use them.

I do not receive any commissions or fees from any of the pharmacies that I recommend.