Can my regular GP prescribe medical cannabis?

Yes. Any registered doctor or nurse practitioner can prescribe medicinal cannabis if they judge it clinically appropriate. For unapproved products they need TGA approval through the Special Access Scheme or Authorised Prescriber scheme, plus any state approval. A GP may also refer you to a specialist for advice first.

How long does TGA approval take for medical cannabis?

Under Special Access Scheme Category B, the TGA says the time from receiving an application to responding is typically 2 to 3 working days. Category A is a notification for seriously ill patients, so no prior approval is needed. Authorised Prescribers do not need a new application for each patient.

Can I get a medical cannabis prescription through telehealth?

Yes, if the consultation happens in real time by video or phone. Medical Board telehealth guidelines say prescribing through questionnaires alone is not good practice, and Ahpra's July 2025 guidance says asynchronous prescribing is not supported. In Tasmania, THC products must be prescribed by someone present and practising in Tasmania.

Is medical cannabis covered by the PBS?

Generally no. Only medicines registered on the ARTG can be considered for PBS listing, and most medicinal cannabis products are unapproved. The one PBS-listed medicinal cannabis medicine, Epidyolex, has been subsidised since 1 May 2021 for a rare epilepsy condition. Other products are paid for privately.

Can a pharmacist refuse to dispense my medical cannabis?

Yes. Pharmacy Board of Australia guidance from September 2025 says pharmacists must use independent judgement, check monitoring systems and contact the prescriber about concerns. They can decline to supply if they have safety concerns, and should avoid supplying excessive quantities or several products to trial.

Do I need a new approval if I change doctors?

Usually yes. SAS and Authorised Prescriber approvals belong to the prescriber, and WA Health notes they are not transferable to another prescriber. Your new doctor will need their own approval before prescribing an unapproved product. Plan the handover so you do not run out.

Can I use a medical cannabis eScript at any pharmacy?

Most pharmacies accept eScripts, and you can present your token or Active Script List at a participating pharmacy. Because most products are unapproved, the pharmacy may need to order yours in. Calling ahead to check stock and timing avoids delays, especially before your supply runs out.

How to Get a Medical Cannabis Prescription in Australia (2026 Guide)

Q: What is the difference between Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 cannabis?

Schedule 4 covers CBD products where CBD is at least 98% of cannabinoids and other cannabinoids, including THC, are 2% or less. Products with more THC are Schedule 8 controlled drugs. Schedule 8 brings extra rules, such as state approvals in some places, prescription monitoring and stricter driving consequences.

By Medicated TV · by the patient, for the patients · Reviewed 28 September 2026

Quick answerTo get a medical cannabis prescription in Australia, book a real-time consultation with a doctor or nurse practitioner. If they decide it is clinically appropriate, they usually need Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval through the Special Access Scheme or Authorised Prescriber scheme, then send an eScript a pharmacy can dispense.

Getting a medical cannabis prescription in Australia is a regulated process. This guide explains each step in plain English, as the rules stand in September 2026.

From the patient side: Medicated TV founder Irish Wick describes himself as Australia's first legal medicinal cannabis flower patient. He went through the early "trial days" of legal access, including prescription nasal sprays, and has sat in on State Health patient advisory boards.

Is medical cannabis legal in Australia with a prescription?

Yes. A doctor or nurse practitioner can legally prescribe medicinal cannabis when they believe it is clinically appropriate. Most products are unapproved: the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not assessed them for safety, quality or effectiveness. So your prescriber usually needs TGA approval before a pharmacy can dispense.

Only two medicinal cannabis medicines are registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG): Sativex (nabiximols) and Epidyolex (cannabidiol). Prescribers are expected to consider registered options first. Every other product is unapproved, which is legal to prescribe only through the pathways below.

What are SAS-A, SAS-B and the Authorised Prescriber scheme?

They are the TGA's pathways for unapproved medicines. Under the Special Access Scheme (SAS), Category A is a notification for seriously ill patients and Category B is an application for one patient, typically answered in 2 to 3 working days. An Authorised Prescriber (AP) prescribes to a group of patients.

Pathway	Who can use it	How it works	What it means for you
SAS Category A (SAS-A)	Medical practitioners only	For patients whose death is reasonably likely within months, or who face premature death without early treatment. The prescriber notifies the TGA within 28 days of supply.	No prior approval. Reserved for serious illness.
SAS Category B (SAS-B)	Medical practitioners and nurse practitioners	An application for one patient. The TGA typically responds within 2 to 3 working days.	The approval sits with your prescriber and does not transfer to another prescriber.
Authorised Prescriber (AP)	Medical practitioners	Endorsed by a human research ethics committee (HREC) or specialist college, then authorised by the TGA for a class of patients. Six-monthly reports apply.	No separate TGA application for each patient.

Unapproved does not mean illegal. It means the TGA has not fully evaluated the product, so your prescriber must explain this and get your informed consent.

Should you see your GP or use a telehealth service?

Either can prescribe, but the consultation must happen in real time. Medical Board of Australia telehealth guidelines, in force since 1 September 2023, say questionnaire-only prescribing is not good practice. July 2025 guidance from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) says asynchronous prescribing is not supported.

Question	Your usual GP	Telehealth service
Real-time consultation?	Yes, in the room	Yes, by video or phone
Your history	Often already holds your records	Relies on what you share, so bring records
Physical examination	Possible on the day	Limited; Ahpra expects an examination where appropriate
Tasmania, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products	Allowed if practising in Tasmania	Prescriber must be present and practising in Tasmania

Ahpra's warning signs include:

consultations that last seconds or a few minutes;
online questionnaires that coach you to say "the right thing";
organisations that prescribe and dispense a single medicine;
being given several products to test.

What happens at a medical cannabis appointment?

Expect a full assessment, not a quick sign-off. Ahpra says prescribers should take a history covering mental health and substance use, check your other medicines, examine you where appropriate, explain the risks and unapproved status, get your informed consent, and plan follow-up reviews.

Your history. Your diagnosis and the treatments you have tried. Ahpra says medicinal cannabis is not first-line treatment, and patient demand alone is not a reason to prescribe.
Medicine checks. Your prescriber checks real-time prescription monitoring for other controlled medicines.
Informed consent. The TGA expects discussion of unapproved status, known risks, side effects, interactions, effects on thinking and driving, and costs.
A plan. Dose instructions, review dates and who to contact about side effects. Prescribers report suspected adverse events to the TGA.

How do eScripts and pharmacy dispensing work?

Your prescriber sends an eScript token, a QR code, by SMS or email, or adds it to your Active Script List. A pharmacist scans it, checks the prescriber's approval and your medication history, then dispenses. Pharmacists must use their own judgement and can refuse to supply over safety concerns.

Schedule 8 medicines can be prescribed electronically in every state and territory, though requirements vary.
Paper prescriptions are still available.
Each repeat arrives as a new token.
Most pharmacies accept eScripts, but an unapproved product may need to be ordered in. Call ahead.
The script must name the exact product and strength. NSW Health says a vague description, such as a cannabidiol (CBD) dominant product range, cannot legally be dispensed.
Pharmacy Board of Australia guidance (23 September 2025) says pharmacists should check monitoring systems, counsel you, and avoid supplying excessive quantities or multiple products to trial.

Is medical cannabis on the PBS?

Mostly no. A medicine must be registered on the ARTG before it can be considered for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), so unapproved products are not subsidised. The only PBS-listed cannabis medicine is Epidyolex, listed from 1 May 2021 for a rare epilepsy condition. Other products are paid for privately.

Before you start, ask your prescriber and pharmacy about the full ongoing cost, including follow-up consultations.

What is the difference between Schedule 4 and Schedule 8 medical cannabis?

Schedule 4 (S4) covers prescription cannabidiol (CBD) products where CBD is at least 98% of cannabinoids and other cannabinoids, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are 2% or less. Products with more THC are Schedule 8 (S8) controlled drugs, the same class as morphine and oxycodone, with stricter rules.

	Schedule 4 (CBD)	Schedule 8 (THC)
Contents	CBD at least 98% of cannabinoids; others 2% or less	THC above the S4 limit
Registered medicine	Epidyolex	Sativex (nabiximols)
Extra state approval	Not required in NSW, Queensland or SA	Required in some states (see below)
Driving	Victoria says CBD-only medicines allow lawful driving if you are not impaired	Driving with any THC present is an offence in most states, even if prescribed

Does your state or territory add extra rules?

Sometimes. TGA approval does not override state or territory law. Queensland adds no approval step, and Victoria and NSW need one only in limited cases. The ACT, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia can require state authorisation for Schedule 8 products. Your prescriber handles these applications.

State or territory	Extra step for S8 (THC) products
NSW	State approval only for drug-dependent patients, compounded products or clinical trials
Victoria	No permit for non-drug-dependent patients since 28 February 2022; prescriber must check SafeScript
Queensland	No state approval for S4 or S8 products
Western Australia	Patient-specific approval for under-18s, drug dependence or substance use disorder in the past 5 years, psychosis or psychiatric comorbidity, or high THC doses
South Australia	Approval for S8 use beyond 2 months, with exemptions for patients over 70 and terminally ill patients
Tasmania	State authorisation required
ACT	ACT Chief Health Officer approval
Northern Territory	Extra S8 rules, including reporting to the monitored medicines database

What changed for prescribing in 2024 to 2026?

Scrutiny increased, especially of fast, single-product telehealth models. Ahpra issued prescribing guidance in July 2025, the Pharmacy Board followed in September 2025, and the TGA consulted on unapproved products from August to October 2025. The TGA says it will develop reform options, so check for updates.

1 July 2025: Queensland Health's Medicinal Cannabis Action Plan 2025–2026 took effect, following a May 2024 survey. One action calls for national work on online, single-medicine prescribing models.
9 July 2025: Ahpra and the national boards published medicinal cannabis prescribing guidance. Ahpra says it may investigate high-volume prescribers even without a complaint.
11 August to 7 October 2025: the TGA consulted on the safety and oversight of unapproved products, citing product-specific telehealth services with direct-to-consumer models. It received 786 submissions.
23 September 2025: the Pharmacy Board published guidance on supplying prescribed medicinal cannabis.

How do you get a medical cannabis prescription, step by step?

Gather your records: diagnosis, treatments tried and a list of current medicines.
Choose a prescriber: your GP, a specialist or a telehealth service that offers real-time consultations.
Attend the consultation and answer honestly about mental health and substance use.
Discuss risks, driving, cost and the unapproved status, then give informed consent if you agree.
Your prescriber applies for SAS-B approval or uses their AP authority, plus any state approval needed.
You receive an eScript token or paper script.
Call a pharmacy to check they can order the product, then present your script.
Attend follow-up reviews and report side effects.

Checklist: what should you bring and ask?

A list of every medicine and supplement you take.
Records of your diagnosis and past treatments.
Your prescriber's name, checked on the Ahpra public register.
Questions: Is this S4 or S8? Which pathway? What is the total cost? How will it affect driving and work? When is my review?
A mobile number or email for eScript tokens.

What mistakes do patients commonly make?

Treating an online form as a consultation. Real-time contact is the standard.
Assuming a prescription makes driving legal. In most states it does not if THC is present.
Leaving refills late. Products may need ordering in, and in NSW emergency supply rules do not apply to unregistered S8 medicines.
Changing prescribers without a plan. Approvals do not transfer.
Not telling your other doctors and pharmacist. They need the full picture to check interactions.
Travelling without checking. Many countries ban cannabis medicines. See our guide to travelling with medicinal cannabis.

This is general information, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your situation.

Sources

General information only, not medical or legal advice. Medicinal cannabis is a prescription medicine in Australia — talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.