In NSW, expert clinical guidance and cannabis medicine prescribing advice for general practitioners, community pharmacists, and rural health practitioners is available via the John Hunter Hospital Pharmacy Department.
The service can assist with:
- understanding the latest evidence around cannabis medicines
- understanding the regulatory requirements for cannabis prescription
- considering tools to monitor a patient’s progress whilst using cannabis medicines
- provision of protocols to facilitate cannabis medicine prescribing
The John Hunter Hospital Pharmacy Department can be contacted by email at
HNELHD-JHHPharmacy@health.nsw.gov.au.
Public health practitioners working in metropolitan local health districts should consult their local medicines information services for clinical guidance and prescribing advice.
Clinical guidelines
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has published
Medicinal cannabis - guidance documents for medicinal cannabis in treating:
- multiple sclerosis
- palliative care patients
- epilepsy in paediatric and young adult patients
- nausea and vomiting, and
- chronic non-cancer pain
For information on cannabis medicines and effect on driving see
Prescribed cannabis medicines and fitness to drive.
Prescribing guidance
The Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE), based at the University of Newcastle, received funding from the NSW Government to develop practical
NSW Cannabis Medicines Prescribing Guidance to provide interim information to support NSW medical practitioners in prescribing cannabis medicines to patients for conditions where cannabinoids are perceived to have some benefit.
Prescribing Guidance documents have been developed and are available on
Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE).
