This course provides a comprehensive overview of cannabis in Australian medicine and outlines the regulatory framework for medicinal cannabis compliance, safe prescribing principles, and practitioner responsibilities in initiating, monitoring, tapering, and discontinuing therapy.

Topics include: a review of the endocannabinoid system, key cannabinoids, dosing formulations and associated clinical care considerations.

Both federal and state legislation, and patient access pathways will be outlined with a 
focus on patient eligibility and risk assessment.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this activity pharmacists should be able to:

1. Explain the roles of the TGA and state health departments in regulating medicinal cannabis prescribing, supply and dispensing.

2. Describe safe patient management including eligibility/risk assessment, dosage selection, titration and adverse event reporting.

3. Compare and contrast requirements of the Special Access Scheme (SAS-B) and Authorised Prescriber (AP) pathways for accessing unapproved medicinal cannabis products.

4. Recognise the dosage and administration differences between CBD and THC and appropriate patient counselling for patients new to cannabis

5. Identify compliant pharmacy practices including script particulars, dispensing intervals and real time S8 recording com to maintain patient safety.

Feedback evaluation forms are provided at the end of each module.