State-by-State breakdown

Prescribing medicinal cannabis in your State

In most States, all Australian registered medical practitioners can prescribe medicinal cannabis. The prescribing practitioner must have the expertise to treat the condition for which medicinal cannabis is being prescribed.

'Schedule 8' (S8) medicines (Controlled Drug) require different approvals to 'Schedule 4’ medicines (Prescription Only). The below focuses solely on the S8 prescription process in Australia.

How to lodge an SAS-B application for an S8 medicine?

All States and Territories in Australia, except Tasmania, now offer a one-step application pathway that combines both the State or Territory Health and TGA application into a single submission.

All applications can now be easily submitted online via the TGA's online portal at https://sas.tga.gov.au/

Each State and Territory has slightly different approval requirements for access to medicinal cannabis, in addition to the TGA requirements. See below for each State or Territory:

Western Australia (WA):

• TGA and State Health approvals are required.
• Any Australian registered medical practitioner can prescribe.
  Note: GPs are required to seek Specialist approval when prescribing for children under the age of 16 and for patients who are drug dependent or have a history of drug use.
  

Queensland (QLD):

• Specialists or GP Specialist (FRACGP) require TGA approval only.
• GPs (non-Specialists) require TGA and State Health approvals.

New South Wales (NSW):

• Only TGA approval is required, unless
  - The patient is under the age of 16 or is participating in a drug treatment program in which case State Health approval is also required.
• Any Australian registered medical practitioner can prescribe.

Victoria (VIC):

• TGA and State Health approvals are required, unless
  - The patient is in a nursing home or in palliative care, in which case State Health approval is not required
• Any Australian registered medical practitioner can prescribe.

South Australia (SA):

• TGA and State Health approvals are required, unless:
  - The patient is over the age of 70 or in palliative care, in which case State Health approval is not required
  - Please note, the patient can be put on a 60-day trial prior to seeking State Health approval, IF they are not on any other S8 medications
• Any Australian registered medical practitioner can prescribe.

Tasmania (TAS):

• ONLY Specialists can prescribe and require Tasmanian Government’s Certificate of Approval (print and email application to TMAAC Secretariat, tmaac@health.tas.gov.au OR Level 2/22 Elizabeth St, Hobart) along with TGA approval (via the online portal).

Northern Territory (NT):

• TGA approval is required.
• Prescribers who have obtained authority from TGA and are treating a patient with a medicine in the controlled drug category (Schedule 8) for two months or more must submit a ‘Notification’ to the NT Chief Health Officer.
• Any Australian registered medical practitioner can prescribe.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

• TGA and State Health approvals are required.
• Specialists can prescribe.
• GPs can prescribe but require a letter of support from a Specialist as part of the application.

How to order a product once your patient’s application has been approved

Once the medical cannabis application is approved, patients need to provide their local pharmacy with the following:

• LGP Classic original script
• TGA approval letter
• State Health approval letter (if required for your state)

For information on how to order product, please click here.

Support for Medical Practitioners

Please contact Little Green Pharma for assistance with:

• Application support via TGA’s SAS-B Application Pathway
• Authorised Prescriber Applications
• Evidence to support the use of medicinal cannabis for a particular condition

Contact us at medical@lgpharma.com.au or 1300 118 840