Clinical guidance for prescribers of cannabis medicines

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 me​tropolitan 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 ca​​​nnabis - 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.