PLANTOGRAM · DOCTORS’ EDUCATION
How to Prescribe Medicinal Cannabis in Australia
A practical overview for Australian doctors covering assessment, SAS-B and Authorised Prescriber pathways, product categories, consent and follow-up.
Clinical assessment comes first
Prescribing medicinal cannabis begins with a clinical decision, followed by the appropriate access process. Identify the condition, review the patient’s treatment history and decide whether the evidence supports a trial. A pathway approval does not replace assessment, consent or ongoing care.
This overview covers common access considerations for unapproved products. Registered medicines and other pathways have their own applicable requirements.
1. Define the indication and treatment goal
Record the diagnosis or symptom presentation, previous treatments and why another approach is being considered. Agree on a specific goal: for example, a change in a symptom measure alongside improved daily function. Record a baseline so the trial can be evaluated.
Review medicines, non-prescription substances, mental health, pregnancy or breastfeeding, relevant medical conditions, prior cannabis exposure, driving and safety-sensitive work. Consider whether additional records, examination or specialist advice are needed.
2. Select the relevant access pathway
For unapproved medicinal cannabis, SAS-B and the Authorised Prescriber scheme are distinct routes. A SAS-B approval does not confer AP status. Choose the route for which the practitioner, product and patient circumstances are eligible.
| Pathway | What it covers | Practical distinction |
|---|---|---|
| SAS-B | An application for an individual patient. | Obtain the relevant approval before proceeding under that pathway. |
| Authorised Prescriber | An authority covering specified treatment circumstances for a class of patients. | Applies only within the authority’s scope; it is not unrestricted prescribing permission. |
3. Check the product and authority match
Confirm composition, dosage form, cannabinoid category and legal schedule using current documentation. Category and schedule describe different aspects of the product; a marketing name or “THC-free” description is insufficient.
Match the intended prescription to the applicable authority. Record concentrations and prescribed amounts clearly, distinguishing mg/mL from the dose administered. A higher concentration is not a reason by itself to select a product.
4. Complete jurisdictional checks and consent
Check the state or territory requirements relevant to the clinical circumstances, including any required permits, prescription rules and monitored-medicine obligations. Federal approval should not be assumed to resolve every jurisdictional requirement.
Discuss expected benefits, uncertainty, adverse effects, interactions, alternatives and the proposed review plan. Explain the unapproved status where relevant, practical administration, storage and safety responsibilities.
5. Plan initiation and review
Use an individualised, conservative plan and avoid changing several treatment variables at once. Document who will review the patient, what will be measured and how adverse effects will be managed.
Follow-up timing should reflect the medicine, clinical risks and treatment response. Higher risk, adverse effects or an unstable response may require earlier contact. Continue, modify or stop treatment according to benefit and harm.
Does SAS-B approval make a doctor an Authorised Prescriber?
No. They are separate access mechanisms. AP status requires its own application and authorisation. Neither pathway guarantees that treatment will be clinically appropriate for a particular patient.
References and further reading
- TGA: Accessing medicinal cannabis for a patient
- TGA: Applications and reporting for unapproved medicinal cannabis
- Medical Board: Medicinal cannabis prescribing guidance, 9 July 2025
- TGA: Medicinal cannabis product categories
