DOCTORS in South Australia can now prescribe medicinal cannabis for some patients without requiring a section 18A authority, under new guidelines clarifying access pathways to the items.
Under this pathway patients can be supplied medicinal cannabis products prescribed by their medical specialist and dispensed by a pharmacist, with existing SA Controlled Substances legislation regulating the prescribing and supply of Schedule 8 medicines also applying to S8 medicinal cannabis products.
Notably, under the guidelines released this week an authority is not required for patients aged 70 years or older; who are Notified Palliative Care Patients; or who are not drug dependent, for regular use for less than two months.
SA Health noted that currently medical practitioners must apply to the Commonwealth Department of Health for approval to supply and where necessary import, an unregistered medicinal cannabis product.
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