Medicinal cannabis refers to medicinal products that contain cannabis or active components (‘actives’) that have been extracted from the cannabis plant. It contains two primary cannabinoid actives: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).

It is grown and processed in carefully controlled, fit-for-purpose environments, as required by the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s Good Manufacturing Practice. This enables manufacturers to produce high-quality medicinal cannabis that ensures a consistent patient experience.

Medicinal cannabis may help to treat a range of symptoms and medical conditions. Some of the most common are: 

• Anxiety  
• Arthritic pain  
• Chronic pain  
• Depression 
• Insomnia 
• Nausea  
• Neuropathic pain 
• Low appetite  
• Management of cancer symptoms 
• Mental health conditions  
• Neurodegenerative disorders 
• Pain caused by inflammation 
• Seizures. 

Medicinal cannabis works by triggering activity in the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a neuromodulatory system. It helps to regulate and balance key bodily functions, such as energy and appetite. It is made up of endogenous G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), endocannabinoids and enzymes, and plays an important role in the regulation of homeostasis in our bodies.

Maintaining homeostasis helps to keep us in balance so that we can function optimally. It is constantly adjusting our acid, blood pressure, blood sugar, electrolytes, energy, hormones, oxygen, proteins and temperature levels in response to changes inside and outside the body, to keep them at a normal level.

Certain cannabinoids (compounds which include cannabinol) from the cannabis plant, namely CB1 and CB2, may be able to trigger the positive impacts of endocannabinoids on homeostasis in the body and aid our overall wellbeing.

CB1 receptors are found primarily in the nervous system. CB2 receptors are found primarily in the immune system. The mapping of these receptors fits well with a diverse range of symptoms and conditions that are found to respond positively to medicinal cannabis.

Yes. In Australia, access to medicinal cannabis is regulated and overseen by the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA). The TGA must provide approval for medicinal cannabis treatment. If you meet the eligibility criteria for medicinal cannabis treatment, your myeden doctor can submit an application to the TGA’s Special Access Scheme (SAS) for approval on your behalf. 

The SAS application must include: 

• An outline of your symptoms and/or diagnosis 
• Details of relevant past treatments and procedures trialled or considered 
• An appraisal of the expected clinical benefits versus the potential risks of the proposed treatment. 

You must not use cannabidiol (CBD) and/or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-based medicinal cannabis products if you:  

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding (CBD and THC) 
• Are a transplant patient using tacrolimus (CBD) 
• Have a history of schizophrenia or psychosis (THC) 
• Have unstable cardiovascular disease (THC).  

There are some medical conditions that are contraindicated with THC and CBD-based products.  

The two big differences between medicinal and non-medicinal cannabis are quality and legality.

Medicinal cannabis is a pharmaceutical grade product, prepared to strict standards using high quality, approved ingredients. It has been tested to make sure it’s contaminant free and is approved for medicinal use.

In Australia, the only legal and safe way to obtain medicinal cannabis is by prescription and via a registered supplier like myeden. It’s important to remember that products available for sale online (or anywhere other than via a registered supplier) are unregulated. They may not be what they say they are. Your health and safety are too important – it’s just not worth the risk.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are two of more than 100 cannabinoid actives contained in the cannabis plant. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol. CBD stands for cannabidiol. They are the most studied cannabinoids and are recognised for their treatment potential for a diverse range of symptoms and medical conditions. 

The THC cannabinoid is psychoactive. This means it’s the cannabinoid that can make you feel high. It binds to both the CB1 and CB2 receptors and has great therapeutic potential as it can influence a broad range of bodily functions. It influences the neurons that affect both your mind and body. It may assist in the treatment of: 

• Anxiety  
• Arthritic pain  
• Chronic pain  
• Insomnia  
• Low appetite  
• Management of cancer symptoms  
• Nausea 
• Neuropathic pain. 

The CBD cannabinoid works differently from THC. It isn’t psychoactive, so it can’t get you high. Researchers think CBD prolongs the breakdown of endocannabinoids, helping to enhance the performance of your body’s own endocannabinoids. Like THC, CBD binds to receptors throughout your body. This means it may improve the endocannabinoids that help manage chemical messages. CBD may provide treatment for: 

• Anxiety  
• Depression  
• Management of cancer symptoms 
• Mental health conditions  
• Neurodegenerative disorders  
• Pain caused by inflammation  
• Seizures. 

Cannabidiol (CBD)-based medicinal cannabis is very safe and well tolerated, even at extremely high doses. CBD is non-intoxicating and non-impairing and has a wide range of clinical applications. For most people, increasing the dose improves the medication’s effectiveness.  

We recommend you introduce CBD-based medications to your body in a gradual, mindful and reflective manner. It is best to start with a subtherapeutic (lower than recommended) dose and slowly work up to therapeutic doses over a one or two week period. 

Only use as much medicinal cannabis as you need to treat your symptoms. For most people CBD helps to regulate sleep patterns, but for some people it can be stimulating. Because of this, we recommend twice-daily dosing in the morning and afternoon. If symptoms flair up at night you can try a third dose. If you notice your symptoms worsening (for example arthritis flaring up in cold or damp weather), you might find temporarily increasing your CBD dosage can help to relieve your symptoms. When you’re stable again, try reducing back to the lowest effective dose.  

Side effects from CBD are generally mild to moderate. These are the most commonly reported side effects of CBD:  

• Diarrhoea  
• Difficulty sleeping  
• Dizziness  
• Fatigue  
• Nausea  
• Weight changes. 

Most side effects resolve within two weeks. If they do not resolve, please talk to your myeden doctor; a product or dosage change may help.  

You must not use CBD-based medicinal cannabis if you:  

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding 
• Are a transplant patient using tacrolimus.  

You must use CBD with caution if you have ever been diagnosed with: 

• Glaucoma  
• Hepatic and renal failure  
• High blood pressure.  

Or if you take medications metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver such as Clobazam, antiepileptics, statins, warfarin.  

We want you to have the best possible experience with medicinal cannabis, so your myeden doctor will discuss this with you in more detail during your consultation. It’s important to tell your doctor about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you are using or thinking of using. 

Even at very low doses, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has powerful therapeutic value. It is also associated with most of the possible side effects of medicinal cannabis. At higher doses it is intoxicating and can make you feel high and may impair your thinking or bodily functioning.  

Frequent overuse of THC-based medications can slow down the body’s own endocannabinoid system. For these reasons, we recommend you introduce THC-based medications to your body in a gradual, mindful and reflective manner. It is best to start with a subtherapeutic (lower than recommended) dose and slowly work up to therapeutic doses over a one or two week period.  

See How does medicinal cannabis work? to learn more about the endocannabinoid system. 

When used appropriately and in line with professional guidance, THC-based medicinal cannabis is usually safe and well tolerated. 

These reported side effects of THC are generally related to high dosages: 

• Anxiety  
• Appetite changes 
• Asthenia (abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy) 
• Balance and coordination problems  
• Cognitive distortion (having thoughts that aren’t true) 
• Confusion, disorientation 
• Convulsions 
• Dizziness 
• Drowsiness 
• Dry mouth  
• Euphoria  
• Feeling high or dissatisfied 
• Fever 
• Hallucinations, paranoid thoughts 
• Light-headedness 
• Low mood 
• Nausea, vomiting 
• Psychosis 
• Short-term memory impairment  
• Uncontrolled laughter  
• Vertigo.  

You must not use THC-based medicinal cannabis if you:  

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding 
• Have a history of schizophrenia or psychosis 
• Have unstable cardiovascular disease.  

You must use THC with caution if you have ever been diagnosed with: 

• Anxiety disorders  
• Arrythmia  
• Balance impairment and increased falls risk  
• Cardiovascular disease 
• Hepatic or renal failure  
• Low blood pressure.  

Or if you are aged under 25, have a family history of psychotic disorder or use medications metabolised through cytochrome P450. 

We want you to have the best possible experience with medicinal cannabis, so your myeden doctor will discuss this with you in more detail during your consultation. It’s important to tell your doctor about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you are using or thinking of using. 

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have many potential therapeutic benefits. Combining them can increase the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis. For example, balanced products with a 1:1 ratio are generally the most effective for pain.

Most side effects related to medicinal cannabis are caused by THC. CBD reduces the activity of THC in the brain and central nervous system’s cannabinoid receptors, which is believed to reduce THC’s side effects and improve the tolerability of medicines that contain THC.

The amount that CBD is able to reduce the activity of THC at cannabinoid receptors depends on the ratio of CBD to THC. For example, most people won’t notice any intoxicating or impairing effects of THC if the ratio of CBD to THC is greater than 4:1. If you find you are more sensitive a further adjusted ratio may be more effective for you. Overall, the higher the ratio of CBD to THC the faster the dose can be increased and the better it can be tolerated.

When it comes to medicinal cannabis, less is usually more. In most cases, a lower dose can produce better therapeutic effects. Start low and go slow.

Unlike most medications, cannabis is not prescribed at a certain quantity and frequency based on factors like body weight or age. Everyone responds differently to medicinal cannabis. Working out and then taking care to only use the correct dose of cannabis for you is an important part of being able to harness the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis, while minimising unwanted side effects.

Medicinal cannabis can be taken in a number of different ways. The two most common ways are by vaporiser (dried flowers) or ingestion (oils). Your myeden doctor will make specific recommendations for you based on your medical history and needs.

Only use as much medicinal cannabis as you need to treat your symptoms.

If you are prescribed a cannabidiol (CBD)-based medicine, we recommend twice-daily dosing in the morning and afternoon. This is because, while for most people CBD helps to regulate sleep patterns, for some people it can be stimulating. If symptoms flair up at night you can try a third dose. If you notice your symptoms worsening (for example arthritis flaring up in cold or damp weather), you might find temporarily increasing your CBD dosage can help to relieve your symptoms. When you’re stable again, try reducing back to the lowest effective dose.

We recommend you do not smoke medicinal cannabis, as this poses risks to your lung health. We also recommend you do not ingest edibles. These often come in treat form (chocolate or gummies) and are infused with THC. It is easy to take too much, or to consume them accidentally as they can be mistaken for regular treats.

We recommend you introduce medicinal cannabis, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-based medications, to your body in a gradual, mindful and reflective manner.

Start low and go slow. It is best to start with a subtherapeutic (lower than recommended) dose and slowly work up to therapeutic doses over a one or two week period.

People sometimes experience side effects from taking medicinal cannabis. The most commonly reported side effects are:

• Anxiety
• Appetite changes
• Cognitive impairment
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness or tiredness
• Dry mouth
• Euphoria
• Nausea, vomiting
• Low blood pressure
• Vertigo

The potential side effects of medicinal cannabis depend on the type of product and the individual.

Generally speaking, cannabidiol (CBD)-based products have minimal side effects. However, if CBD is combined with other medication, drowsiness may be a side effect.

Products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can make people feel high and impair functioning.

Often decreasing the dosage can help to ease unwanted side effects. Patients that use less cannabis report that they have more energy, feel more clear-headed, and have minimal or no unwanted side effects while achieving maximum therapeutic benefits.

We want you to have the best possible experience with medicinal cannabis, so your myeden doctor will discuss potential side effects and how to manage them in more detail during your consultation.

It is possible to experience unwanted side effects from medicinal cannabis, but the amount required to cause toxicity would be impossible to self-administer. No-one has ever died from a medicinal cannabis overdose.  

Remember, start low and go slow. We do not recommend taking your first dose on a day when you will have to meet a demanding schedule, for example teach a class or operate heavy machinery.  

We recommend you never smoke medicinal cannabis, as this poses risks to your lung health. 

It is possible for medicinal cannabis to interact with other medications and supplements. 

You must not use a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-based medicinal cannabis product if you:  

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding 
• Have a history of schizophrenia or psychosis 
• Have unstable cardiovascular disease.  

You must use with caution if you have ever been diagnosed with: 

• Anxiety disorders  
• Arrythmia  
• Balance impairment and increased falls risk  
• Cardiovascular disease 
• Hepatic or renal failure  
• Low blood pressure  

Or if you are aged under 25, have a family history of psychotic disorder or use medications metabolised through cytochrome P450. 

You must not use a cannabidiol (CBD)-based medicinal cannabis product if you:  

• Are pregnant or breastfeeding 
• Are a transplant patient using tacrolimus.  

You must use CBD with caution if you have ever been diagnosed with: 

• Glaucoma  
• Hepatic and renal failure  
• High blood pressure.  

Or if you take medications metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes in the liver such as Clobazam, antiepileptics, statins, warfarin.  

We want you to have the best possible experience with medicinal cannabis, so your myeden doctor will discuss this with you in more detail during your consultation. It’s important to tell your doctor about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you are using or thinking of using.