Australia: emergency measures for over-the-counter medical cannabis

The Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales have extended emergency measures that allow pharmacies to dispense medications available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) without a prescription, including medical cannabis.

These measures were first implemented in January in response to the devastating wildfires that ravaged the country, and were extended in response to the pandemic of coronavirus, through the end of September.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, the Australian Pharmacists' Federation, welcomed this decision and called on other states to follow suit.

«Australians are having a really hard time right now, so making emergency supply measures permanent and consistent nationwide would make life much easier,» he declared National President George Tambassis.

«That would mean our patients wouldn't face unnecessary additional costs or have to wait to take action every time a crisis arises.».

This measure applies only to patients who have previously been prescribed medical cannabis but who will now be able to avoid having to renew their prescription. For those who were waiting to receive a prescription, the Australian government approves about 4,000 applications per month.

L’Australia legalized medical cannabis in 2016 and has been slowly rolling out its national medical cannabis program ever since. The country initially faced numerous cannabis supply shortages, with imports making up for the shortfalls. In 2019, the steps to obtain licenses Production and processing have been made easier.