REVIEWED BY ESSENCE DISPENSARY TEAM: Dharni Khatri | Pharmacist

As more people seek to manage chronic conditions, medical cannabis treatments have become an increasingly relevant alternative. Despite the growing awareness, many people are still unsure what conditions healthcare practitioners can prescribe medical cannabis for, and what the process is getting medical cannabis treatment. Healthcare practitioners may consider prescribing medical cannabis for chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, insomnia, and more when other treatments have not provided adequate relief and the condition and/or symptoms are considered ‘chronic’.

Whether you're just starting your research or ready to take the next step, this blog article explains the best practices for starting a medical cannabis treatment plan—from the prescription process, monitoring your treatment plan, and how to get unique and ongoing support from the specialist pharmacists you’ll find at Essence Dispensary.

Understanding medical cannabis treatment

What is medical cannabis?

Medical or medicinal cannabis refers to the use of the cannabis sativa plant and its components for therapeutic purposes—not for recreational cannabis use. The two most well-known compounds in cannabis are:

  • THC (tetrahydrocannabinol): The psychoactive component responsible for the "high".
  • CBD (cannabidiol): A non-intoxicating compound known for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties.

These compounds are known as cannabinoids, which interact with one of the body’s regulatory systems called the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system plays a key role in keeping your body in a state of balance. It does this by regulating a wide range of functions like mood, sleep, appetite, and immune response. While balance is the end goal, regulation is the mechanism the endocannabinoid system uses to get balance—constantly adjusting signals to help your body respond to internal and external changes. Take inflammation for example: your body needs just enough inflammation to support healing, but not so much that it causes damage. The endocannabinoid system helps fine-tune that response so things don’t tip too far in either direction. This is where a medical cannabis treatment plan comes in. People suffering from chronic pain, inflammation, anxiety, insomnia and many more conditions can consult with a healthcare practitioner at medical cannabis treatment clinics to be professionally assessed to see if medical cannabis treatment might be suitable option to get relief, (subject to an eligibility test).

When is medical cannabis treatment needed?

Medical cannabis may be prescribed for a range of conditions, including chronic pain (such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and migraines), anxiety and stress disorders, insomnia and other sleep disturbances, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), epilepsy and seizure management, multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer-related symptoms like nausea and pain, and palliative care symptom relief. Addressing many of these conditions or symptoms are considered medical cannabis pain treatment or chronic pain medical treatment plans.

Medical cannabis treatment may be needed when ‘traditional’ or conventional treatment hasn’t worked. Those treatments are known as ‘first-line treatment’ and medical cannabis treatment is a ‘second-line treatment’. When used properly in conjunction with lifestyle improvements and other treatment modalities such as physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, mental health therapies etc., medical cannabis can be used alongside as a holistic approach to treatment to enhance the outcomes and support better health.

How to start a medical cannabis treatment plan

Consulting a healthcare professional

You must consult with a healthcare professional first. Going to specialist medical cannabis treatment clinics like Essence Dispensary can connect you to doctors and registered nurses who prescribe medical cannabis. Going to medical cannabis treatment clinics are beneficial as you may find that your regular GP doesn’t have experience with prescribing medical cannabis or may not be comfortable with prescribing medical cannabis.

Once you’ve consulted with a healthcare practitioner and discussed your circumstances/condition and medical history, they may consider it appropriate to prescribe a medical cannabis treatment plan.

Essence Dispensary has a collaborative relationship between patients and doctors in developing a tailored treatment plan. Our team of pharmacists work with people every day to give them unique medical cannabis support. They collaborate with you and your healthcare practitioner to set and follow personalised medical cannabis treatment plans. And give holistic advice to improving your mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing during the treatment.

Getting a prescription for medical cannabis

Medical cannabis treatment is heavily regulated by the Australian government and therefore must be prescribed with approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

To prescribe medical cannabis treatment, doctors and registered nurses can apply for TGA approval via SAS-B pathway or for doctors who frequently prescribe medical cannabis, they can apply with the TGA to become an Authorised Prescriber (AP). Being an AP is only available to doctors, not registered nurses.

The TGA approval process includes the healthcare practitioner submitting documentation of your condition, previous treatment outcomes, and the justification for trying a medical cannabis treatment. The TGA usually reviews and responds to applications within 24–72 hours. As a patient, you’ll receive a copy of the TGA approval, which is required to be given to the pharmacy/dispensary along with your prescription.

To learn more about the process for getting a medical cannabis treatment plan read our article click here.

The importance of using the right tools

Other than choosing a specialist dispensary team to get the best support during your medical cannabis treatment, you must also use the right tools to get the most out of your medical cannabis product. For example, vaporisation ensures effective medical cannabis consumption which means you’re taking in more of the medicinal properties and reducing waste. Investing in the right tools for your medical cannabis treatment becomes a more cost-effective exercise and importantly you’re not becoming discouraged because the treatment plan doesn’t seem to be ‘working’. Often a medical cannabis treatment plan can start out with a ‘start-low and go-slow’ approach, so you want to make sure you’ve got the right tools for the medicine to be taken in by the body and for the medical cannabis to do its job.

Recent law changes (rolled out since Jan 2024) have increased the technical standards for tools—devices, accessories, and ingredients—to better protect potential health risks for the Australian public. To learn more about the vape reforms go to our FAQs click here.

Essence Dispensary stocks a full range of complaint devices and accessories starting from $150 through the therapeutic goods approved devices, which means they are registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) that the TGA oversees. For medical cannabis treatment, The Mighty Medic is the medically approved portable cannabis inhaler. Contact the Essence Dispensary team to find out more about their range of compliant tools available instore or for delivery across Australia.

Our team understands the importance of using the right tools for efficient medication use. We know that using the wrong tools or using medication incorrectly can be a costly mistake in terms of time, money, and hope. We spend the necessary time with patients to demonstrate proper medication use techniques and assist them to set a positive mindset for their treatment regime.

Monitoring your treatment progress

  • Tracking the effectiveness of your treatment

    It’s important to monitor symptoms, sides effects, and overall progress during medical cannabis treatment and share this with your prescriber and pharmacist. As with all medicines, medical cannabis can come with side effects. The Essence Dispensary team recommends you make notes throughout your medical cannabis treatment plan so that you can pinpoint if there’s a common dominator that’s potentially influencing how you feel when you take medical cannabis. For example, you may find that an empty or full stomach influences how you feel. To experience the best results from medical cannabis, timing and consistency are essential. 
    To optimise the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis treatment, it’s essential to get the dosage and consumption method right. Your healthcare practitioner may recommend starting on a low dose and slowly increasing it until you have found the right dosage for your symptoms and to fit in with your lifestyle needs. It’s important to understand that "dose" refers to the specific amount of a substance taken at one time, while "dosage" refers to the overall regimen, including the dose, frequency, and duration of administration.
    The Essence Dispensary team will work with you throughout your medical cannabis treatment to give you guidance based on any side effects or concerns you may experience. The team also can help identify when it’s time to book a follow-up consult with your healthcare practitioner.
    To learn more about creating a wellness routine with medical cannabis click here.

  • Setting goals for your health and wellbeing

    When developing a wellness routine, it’s essential to take the time to assess and define your goals, especially if you’re incorporating medical cannabis treatment. Depending on whether you’re trying to manage pain, reduce stress, improve your sleep, or treat a specific condition, the type, dosage, consumption method, and frequency of medical cannabis you require will be different. Addressing these needs will help you adjust your wellness routine accordingly.

  • Adjusting your treatment plan as needed

    Medical cannabis treatment plans can be adapted based on patient feedback, side effects, or changing needs.

    It’s important to think of medical cannabis treatment as a tool or bridging therapy to help move away from other more intense medications like prescription sleep and/or pain medication. In this instance, medical cannabis generally has a less addictive profile in comparison to the sleep or pain medications. Medical cannabis is easier to ‘come off’ completely in the long run. Patients would be wise to make the most of the relief that medical cannabis provides as a stepping stone through a tough time in their life and start thinking about where they can modify things in their lifestyle to improve overall health. Making changes in diet and increasing activity levels and exercises are two major pieces of the puzzle for everybody’s wellbeing and health. Tools like breathwork and meditation are also powerful tools for change.

    At Essence Dispensary, we embrace a holistic approach to your wellbeing, recognising the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and emotional health in your journey to wellness. Beyond medication, we explore your lifestyle, seeking opportunities for holistic improvements to optimise your overall wellbeing.

Potential side effects and considerations

Breathing and centering

Common side effects of medical cannabis

Some of the most common side effects of medical cannabis include:

  • dizziness
  • increased heart rate
  • impaired cognitive function
  • changes in appetite
  • dry mouth.

More adverse effects can include cannabis induced hyperemesis or ‘cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS)’ which means you’re experiencing cycles of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Without intervention, it could lead to hospitalisation. But realistically anything that doesn’t feel right for a patient could be considered an adverse effect.

Firstly, if you experience an adverse effect, you must stop taking any further doses and then contact our pharmacists or your healthcare practitioner who prescribed the medical cannabis treatment. Always go immediately to emergency at hospital if the adverse effect is severe.

Read our blog on medical cannabis benefits & side effects.

Ensuring the safe use of medical cannabis

When it comes to starting a medical cannabis treatment, safety and compliance should always come first. Start with a low dose and adjust gradually under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider to minimise side effects and ensure the best results for your condition.

While it is not mandatory to carry your prescription, having it with you can serve to confirm you legally acquired the product. When medicinal cannabis is dispensed, the primary container (jar, bottle, etc.) is labelled by the dispensary with information such as the patient’s name, doctor’s name, date of dispensation, etc. This label serves as a verification of legality, and we highly advise keeping your medication in its original container for this purpose.

To learn more: read our blog How to get medical cannabis.

How Essence Dispensary supports you

  • Expert advice and personalised guidance

    Starting a medical cannabis treatment plan is a personal journey that requires the right guidance, tools, and ongoing support. By working closely with qualified healthcare practitioners, monitoring your progress, and making thoughtful adjustments along the way, you can get the best outcomes for your health and wellbeing. At Essence Dispensary, our team of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are here to support you every step of the way—helping you navigate the prescription process, choose the right devices, and build a holistic treatment plan tailored to your needs.

    We can help arrange a consult with a health practitioner in-person or online at Essence Dispensary go to our book a consult page to learn more.

  • Filling prescriptions and delivery options

    At Essence Dispensary, we’re committed to supporting people as a dedicated medical cannabis treatment clinic. Whether you already have a prescription or are just beginning your journey, we can help.

    We dispense prescriptions onsite and our medical cannabis products and tools/device range is both extensive and high-quality. You can buy and collect instore or organise it to be sent to your address by Express Post. If there are stock issues with a particular brand/product, we can always contact your prescribing healthcare practitioner on your behalf to request the medication prescribed to be changed to the next most suitable medicine (subject to your doctor's/registered nurse’s decision).

Next steps

If you’re ready to take the next step or simply want to learn more, reach out to our team and discover how a medical cannabis treatment plan could become part of your path to better health.

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