New Patient FAQ’s

You’ll be connected to one of the team who will explain the process and treatment that has been selected for you. We’ll then collect payment for your care plan and proceed to organise for your medication to be dispensed via one of our pharmacy partners. They will dispense your medication, package it up and facilitate delivery to your residential address.

Founded and funded by Australian doctors, we were the first service to demystify the process for patients back in 2018. Since that time, we assist and support over 50,000 patients a year.

One thing that separates us from other companies is that we are medication and company agnostic. That means that a medication brand and product is selected purely based on the suitability for you as the patient based on individual needs and circumstances.

The cannabis plant produces a group of chemicals called cannabinoids, one of which is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC). This is the main cannabinoid responsible for the ‘high’ produced by cannabis.

Probably the most widely used cannabinoids in named cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is not psychoactive and therefore has no psychoactive effect. This means CBD doesn’t cause a high and/or change a person’s state of mind when using it.

Medicinal cannabis contains specific active components in known amounts and mixtures, which can be carefully controlled, standardised and administered for patient use.

Besides THC, another important cannabinoid found in medicinal cannabis is cannabidiol (or CBD).

Regulations are in place to ensure high-quality, consistent, and standardised medications are available for Australian consumers.

The endocannabinoid system is made of three main parts:

• Endocannabinoids are the body’s own version of cannabis compounds;
• Receptors aid absorption and mediate the effects of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids; and
• Enzymes regulate the breakdown of endocannabinoids after completing their function.

Endocannabinoids occur naturally in our bodies. Phytocannabinoids are found in plants like the cannabis plant and can mimic the action of endocannabinoids.

Some common conditions include:

• Chronic pain
• Anxiety
• Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
• Refractory paediatric epilepsy
• Palliative care indications
• Cancer Pain
• Sleep conditions
• Neuropathic pain
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Fibromyalgia
• and many others.

To understand whether you may be eligible for medicinal cannabis therapy, please speak to one of our qualified doctors or team of experts.

For the most up-to-date and accurate information on cannabis medicine and prescribing medicinal cannabis in Australia, please visit https://www.tga.gov.au/medicinal-cannabis-guidance-documents

In October 2016, the Commonwealth Government made amendments to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967, making it legal to cultivate cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes under a national licensing scheme. The scheme also requires that cannabis products be made available to patients only with a prescription from an authorised medical practitioner.

Cannabis remains a highly regulated drug in Australia and growing or using cannabis without the relevant licences or authorised prescription remains illegal.

Prescriptions can therefore be taken in a variety of ways:

Ingestion and sublingual: Oil, oral spray and softgels can all be ingested or administered sublingually (under the tongue). Their effects are typically felt in the first two hours of administration, lasting anywhere from 6 to 8 hours.

Inhalation: Dried flower and vape concentrate are inhaled. The effects are typically felt immediately, however it can take up to 30 minutes to reach full effect. Effects last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

Topical: Oils can also be added to lotions, gels or creams that can be applied topically. The effects are typically felt immediately depending on the application site. Effects last for 1 or 2 hours and need to be applied frequently.

Dosage, concentration, individual biological factors and method of consumption will all affect your response time to feeling the effects of medicinal cannabis.

Like all prescription medicines, medicinal cannabis products can have side effects. These may include:

• fatigue and sedation
• vertigo / confusion
• nausea and vomiting
• fever
• appetite increase or decrease
• dry mouth
• diarrhea
• convulsions
• feelings of euphoria (intense happiness) or depression
• hallucinations or paranoid delusions
• psychosis or cognitive distortion (having untrue thoughts)

The extent of side effects can vary with the type of medicinal cannabis product and between individuals.

However, state regulations may be in place that limits prescriptions for certain conditions, to certain doctors or certain forms of medicinal cannabis.

Eligibility to be prescribed medicinal cannabis is assessed on an individual basis taking into account many factors in a patient’s history.  This is best conducted by a doctor experienced in medicinal cannabis assessment and prescribing.

Medicinal cannabis products are not currently subsidised by the Commonwealth Government.

We wish to advise that patients receiving cannabinoid medication should not drive, work at heights, operate heavy machinery, or work in situations where intact reaction times are critical for safety. This is as treatment with cannabinoids can impact response times.

However, the following conditions are not compatible with medicinal cannabis, or certain forms of this:

• Allergy, or hypersensitivity to cannabis or parts of the medication (e.g. the carrier oil)
• Patients who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding
• Patients with certain psychiatric conditions (such as psychosis) and the use of THC

For the most up-to-date and accurate information on cannabis medicine and prescribing medicinal cannabis in Australia, please visit https://www.tga.gov.au/medicinal-cannabis-guidance-documents