Cannabis in Australia

[purrsian]

I'm just wondering if I could get anyone else's experiences of obtaining cannabis to treat CFS in Australia (either via prescription or uh...elsewhere...). It's something I'd really like to try due to my symptoms seeming quite inflammatory, and I was keen when my doctor suggested it. However, after discussing it all with him and he provided info on the products he can prescribe, we're looking at $365 for 45mL (recommended dose is 1mL/day). Considering the fact that we are a one-salary household thanks to my condition, that is beyond our price range.

Is this the normal price for prescribed cannabis oil in Australia? Is the street price any better? I'm not even sure if I'll get my prescription approved as CFS is not on the list of indications, although he has had success with a fibromyalgia patient (and I mentioned both pain and nausea are issues for me). If I get denied, are there any other options in Australia? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to make info public

Thanks for any info guys. It's something I'd really like to explore due to my inflammatory symptoms, nausea, sleep issues and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

 

[kangaSue]

It's all ridiculously expensive.

Not sure if CFS is a condition that you could access cannabis for through approved medical channels but if going through a doctor, they have to first apply to the TGA to get prescribing approval to then access cannabis products for you. If you can get over that hurdle, there's a link in this TGA paper to some Australian suppliers of the products;
https://www.tga.gov.au/access-medicinal-cannabis-products-using-access-schemes

Mullaways Medical Cannabis in NSW might also be able to help out with the product if you can get TGA approval;
http://www.mullawaysmedicalcannabis.com.au/

 

[purrsian]

Thanks @kangaSue, it's not a condition listed as an indication but he thought we would apply and see if it got approved as he thinks it could help. However, I've got an email from him asking for my previous tilt table test and any other specialist info I may have as the TGA has asked for that, so I'm thinking they are leaning towards no. Not that I can afford it anyway! Thank you for the links, I will definitely be checking them out when I'm a little more clear-headed (brain not working so good right now!)

 

[susieq777]

www.australiancannabisuniversity.org is worth a look too though I haven't bought any of their products myself.

 

[purrsian]

Good news - I am approved! I'm currently reviewing the links again that you guys posted. I also asked my local pharmacist how much he could order it in for and he said $320. The doctor had said the $365 was an old price as his leaflet was old and he hoped it had gone down. $320 is still expensive but 14% cheaper is a nice saving at least.

The TGA asked for a lot of extra info from my doctor regarding treatments I've tried, so I really expected to be rejected. Really glad to have the chance to try it considering out lack of validated treatment options.

 

[mrmichaelfreedmen]

I'm just wondering if I could get anyone else's experiences of obtaining cannabis to treat CFS in Australia (either via prescription or uh...elsewhere...). It's something I'd really like to try due to my symptoms seeming quite inflammatory, and I was keen when my doctor suggested it. However, after discussing it all with him and he provided info on the products he can prescribe, we're looking at $365 for 45mL (recommended dose is 1mL/day). Considering the fact that we are a one-salary household thanks to my condition, that is beyond our price range.

Is this the normal price for prescribed cannabis oil in Australia? Is the street price any better? I'm not even sure if I'll get my prescription approved as CFS is not on the list of indications, although he has had success with a fibromyalgia patient (and I mentioned both pain and nausea are issues for me). If I get denied, are there any other options in Australia? Feel free to PM me if you don't want to make info public

Thanks for any info guys. It's something I'd really like to explore due to my inflammatory symptoms, nausea, sleep issues and chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Is it the cannabis oil(CBD oil) you are after?

 

[mindgonemad]

Good news - I am approved! I'm currently reviewing the links again that you guys posted. I also asked my local pharmacist how much he could order it in for and he said $320. The doctor had said the $365 was an old price as his leaflet was old and he hoped it had gone down. $320 is still expensive but 14% cheaper is a nice saving at least.

The TGA asked for a lot of extra info from my doctor regarding treatments I've tried, so I really expected to be rejected. Really glad to have the chance to try it considering out lack of validated treatment options.

Guessing by the price you are talking about CBD. My doctor referred me to the Cannabis Access Cklinic in Sydney who ended up getting me approved. I used to pay around $300 for a bottle of CBD. Recently they switched me to a different supplier which was cheaper so I'm not complaining as having trouble affording it as is. They new script is for a compounded version that I get from Green Dispensary; 25ml bottle (100mg/ml), dosage 0.3ml twice daily and it's $199. Maybe ask your doctor about it as it might save you some money. Possibly a bit late but they have it on sale at the moment until Aug some time due to covid, would have thought that would make it dearer but I'm not complaining.

I was also put on THC at the same time to help the sleep. I take 0.7ml just before bed and between the two of them my sleep went from 3-4 hours broken by waking to urinate 4-6 times, to 6-8 hours broken 0-1 times, so it was a massive improvement. He did suggest taking 0.2ml of a morning but the brain fog is debilitating enough that layering the THC on top just made it worse.

Hope it works for you.