Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare Professionals
At Cheap Cannabis, we understand the vital role that healthcare professionals play in providing safe, regulated, and evidence-based access to medicinal cannabis. Our goal is to support doctors, pharmacists, and medical practitioners with accurate information and resources to navigate the prescribing process in compliance with Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) guidelines.
Medicinal cannabis products in Australia are prescription-only medications and can only be accessed through approved pathways. Healthcare professionals who wish to prescribe medicinal cannabis must do so under the Special Access Scheme (SAS) or by becoming an Authorised Prescriber (AP).
The SAS pathway allows healthcare professionals to prescribe medicinal cannabis for patients who meet specific clinical criteria. Under SAS Category B, prescribers must apply to the TGA for approval before prescribing. The process involves:
Clinical justification: Documenting why standard treatments have been ineffective or unsuitable.
Application submission: Lodging an application via the TGA SAS portal.
Approval and prescription: Once approved, prescriptions can be dispensed through a licensed pharmacy.
Doctors can apply to become Authorised Prescribers, allowing them to prescribe medicinal cannabis without the need for individual patient approvals. To become an Authorised Prescriber, a doctor must:
Demonstrate clinical justification for prescribing medicinal cannabis.
Obtain approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or endorsement from a specialist college.
Submit an application to the TGA with supporting documentation.
Report usage to the TGA every six months.
More details on the Authorised Prescriber process can be found on the TGA website.
Healthcare professionals must comply with all TGA, Office of Drug Control (ODC), and Australian state regulations. Key points include:
Patient eligibility: Medicinal cannabis is generally prescribed when conventional treatments have been ineffective.
Product selection: Prescribers must select appropriate formulations based on a patient’s needs (e.g., oils, capsules, or dried flower).
Dosage and titration: Must be determined based on individual patient response and in accordance with TGA guidelines.
Reporting requirements: Regular reporting of patient outcomes and usage is required for Authorised Prescribers.
Pharmacists play a critical role in dispensing medicinal cannabis and ensuring compliance with Australian laws. Key responsibilities include:
Verifying valid prescriptions before dispensing.
Educating patients on administration, storage, and potential interactions.
Maintaining accurate dispensing records as required under state and federal regulations.
Ensuring product traceability through licensed supply channels.
For the latest regulatory updates and guidance, healthcare professionals can refer to the following official resources:
TGA – Medicinal Cannabis Guidance
If you are a healthcare professional seeking further information about prescribing affordable medicinal cannabis, contact our support team for guidance.
Important Disclaimer: Cheap Cannabis does not sell medicinal cannabis directly to patients. All products are available by prescription only and comply with Australian regulatory requirements.