Medicinal cannabis in Australia

No CBD product has yet been approved and listed on the ARTG, meaning all medicinal cannabis still needs a prescription.

Gary Ross Hunter's headshot
Tim Bennett's headshot

By

Gary Ross Hunter

&

Tim Bennett

Updated

Fact checked
Who’s this health cover for?
  • No spam calls
  • See prices instantly
4.6 based on 835 reviews

Key takeaways

  • Medical marijuana is legal Australia-wide, although the official term is 'medicinal cannabis'.
  • Certain low-dose CBD oil preparations can be available over the counter, though it does require a prescription.
  • Health insurance can cover cannabis products under non-PBS prescriptions in an extras product, with some limitations.

Is medicinal cannabis covered by Medicare?

Medicinal cannabis may be legal in Australia, but it's mostly not subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), so you'll be essentially be paying the full cost of the medicine. Depending on your script, that could see you paying from $50 a month to a few hundred dollars a month.

Is medicinal cannabis covered by private health insurance?

Private health insurance can cover the cost of your cannabis prescription, under certain conditions. Extras insurance has a standard coverage category of 'non-PBS pharmaceuticals', which help pay for prescriptions that aren't subsidised by the PBS. This covers the majority of medicinal cannabis products.

However, to be covered by your extras policy, there are a few things that need to line up. Each provider has different rules about what they will and won't approve. Factors that change that approval include:

  • If your prescription is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
  • If the item is on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
  • The documentation you have from your doctor.

The best bet is to ask your health fund before you pay for your prescription if they cover the cost. If you're considering a new fund and you have an existing prescription, check the policy you're thinking about to see if they will cover medicinal cannabis.

Is CBD oil covered by private health insurance?

Over-the-counter CBD oil generally won't be covered by your extras insurance, as funds typically only reimburse costs for prescription medicine.

3 types of medicinal cannabis in Australia

CBD oil
Sativex oral spray
Unregistered products

CBD oil

CBD oil

It's important to distinguish these pharmacist-only CBD products from CBD products that require a doctor's prescription. Higher-dose CBD oils, or those combined with other cannabinoids like THC, are Schedule 4 (Prescription Only Medicine) or Schedule 8 (Controlled Drug) and always require a prescription.

One example of a prescribed, ARTG-registered CBD product is Epidyolex. This specific brand of highly purified CBD oil is approved for treating seizures associated with rare forms of epilepsy, such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, particularly in children. Epidyolex is a Schedule 4 or Schedule 8 medicine and is only available with a doctor's prescription. While CBD is researched for various therapeutic benefits, its use in products like Epidyolex for specific seizure conditions is a key TGA-approved application.

Important: Pure CBD oil does not contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in significant amounts and therefore does not produce a "high."

Sativex spray

Sativex oral spray

Sativex is primarily approved for the treatment of moderate to severe spasticity in adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) when other anti-spasticity medications have not been effective. Its use is typically considered after a trial period to assess efficacy and tolerability. As a Schedule 8 controlled drug, Sativex is only available with a doctor's prescription.

Important: Unlike pure CBD oil, Sativex contains THC, which is the main psychoactive component of cannabis. This is why it is a controlled drug and requires careful medical supervision.

Medicinal cannabis

Unregistered products

While many unregistered medicinal cannabis products are legal, they still require a prescription from a doctor and approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Only a doctor can apply to the TGA to get medicinal cannabis; you can't do it yourself. The doctor needs to provide medical evidence that you need it, obtain permits and comply with relevant state laws.

No, the use of cannabis for non-medicinal purposes is illegal in Australia, with the exception of the ACT. In the ACT, adults can possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis (or 150 grams of fresh cannabis) and grow up to two cannabis plants per person, with a maximum of four plants per household. Additionally, the NSW medicinal cannabis compassionate use scheme gives police officers the right to use their discretion to not charge adults with a terminal illness for possession of cannabis that hasn't been prescribed by a doctor.

The cultivation of cannabis for scientific and medicinal purposes is regulated under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967, which was amended by the Narcotic Drugs Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis) Act 2021. However, cannabis is still a highly regulated drug in Australia and use, possession or cultivation for non-medical purposes can lead to criminal or civil penalties.

Medical marijuana laws for each state

Queensland icon

Medical marijuana laws Queensland

You can get medicinal cannabis if there is clinical evidence that it's effective for your condition and the usual treatments haven't worked. If the medicinal cannabis contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), you need to provide written consent you won't drive or operate heavy machinery. Your doctor will need to get approval from the TGA. Contact Queensland Health for more details.

New South Wales icon

Medical marijuana laws NSW

Any doctor in New South Wales can prescribe medicinal cannabis if they believe it's appropriate and they get approval from the TGA. Check with the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation for further details.

Australian Capital Territory icon

Medical marijuana laws ACT

Doctors in the ACT can apply to the ACT Chief Health Officer for approval to prescribe cannabis products so long as there is a valid medical reason. Approved conditions for timely treatment include spasticity in multiple sclerosis, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, pain and anxiety in patients with a life-limiting disease, and refractory paediatric epilepsy. Visit the ACT Health website for more info.

Victoria icon

Medical marijuana laws Victoria

Any doctor in Victoria can prescribe medicinal cannabis for a patient if they believe it's appropriate and they get approval from the state authorities. Check health.vic for more details.

Tasmania icon

Medical marijuana laws Tasmania

Under the Tasmanian Government's medical cannabis controlled access scheme (CAS) launched in September 2017, specialists can prescribe medicinal cannabis where conventional treatment has been unsuccessful. Contact the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services for full details.

South Australia icon

Medical marijuana laws SA

There's no restricted list of medical conditions for which medicinal cannabis may be prescribed in South Australia. It's decided on a case-by-case basis by your doctor. More information is available from SA Health.

Western Australia icon

Medical marijuana laws WA

Any doctor or medical practitioner can prescribe medicinal cannabis if they believe it is appropriate and they have the necessary approvals from the TGA. Visit the WA Government's Department of Health for more information.

Northern Territory icon

Medical marijuana laws NT

Patients in the Northern Territory can access medicinal cannabis through doctors who are authorised under the Special Access or Authorised Prescriber Schemes administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Visit the Department of Health website for full details.

Frequently asked questions

Gary Ross Hunter's headshot
Journalist
Add to Preferred Sources

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 522 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
  • Managing the cost of living
Tim Bennett's headshot
Co-written by

Insurance expert

A seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in news, politics and finance reporting, Tim has previously held roles at the ABC, SBS and Fairfax Media. Tim’s expert insights have been quoted in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. He regularly appears on TV and radio, and has been interviewed on 7 News, Sunrise, SBS News, ABC Local, 3AW and 5AA. Tim is passionate about simplifying complex insurance topics for Australian consumers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Macquarie University and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). If you’re interested in a media interview with Tim, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com. See full bio

Tim's expertise
Tim has written 138 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Financial comparison
  • Health insurance
  • General insurance
  • Life insurance
More resources on Finder

Get rewarded $$ for switching with Finder Rewards

Find a better deal, save on your bills and get a free gift card. Sign up to be the first to hear about new Finder Rewards.

Ask a question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

More guides on Finder

Go to site