PHARMACISTS are set to play a key role in supporting patients who are seeking access to medicinal cannabis, Australian Natutral Therapeutics Group CEO, Matt Cantelo, believes.
Despite the Therapeuctic Goods Administration (TGA) down-scheduling low-dose cannabidiol (CBD) to Pharmacist-Only, Cantelo told Pharmacy Daily that with no products that meet the S3 criteria it could be "anywhere from six months to two years" before an over-the-counter (OTC)medication becomes available in Australia.
In the meantime, Cantelo said, "pharmacists should explain to patients that while CBD at 150mg per day is now legal OTC, there are no approved products on the market yet".
He advised pharmacists to direct patients seeking CBD medications to talk to their doctors about accessing medicinal cannabis through the special access scheme (SAS), potentially at higher doses.
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