Medical cannabis products

A global trend towards the legalisation of medicinal cannabis highlights the increased interest among the community with respect to the therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis products. With a greater amount of data available, medical professionals have been able to conduct extensive research on most medicinal cannabis products and their effectiveness for treating medical conditions. A thorough understanding of medicinal cannabis, its benefits and side effects will be of use to anyone interested in accessing medicinal cannabis.

What is medicinal cannabis?

Medicinal cannabis, also known as medical marijuana, refers to pharmaceutical products prescribed by medical practitioners for the treatment of certain medical conditions. The cannabis plant contains hundreds of constituents and close to 100 cannabinoids that can be utilised to provide treatment for various medical illnesses and other conditions. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the amount of medicinal cannabis products available and associated treatment therapies.

How does medicinal cannabis work?

Medicinal cannabis uses elements present in the cannabis plant extract to create medications and other products for treatment purposes. The cannabinoids and other chemicals found in the plant have a different effect on the body. The two main chemicals used in medicinal cannabis are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). These chemicals are similar to chemicals that the human body produces that relate to pain, appetite, movement, stress and other cognitive processes.

Medicinal cannabis types

There are numerous cannabis products available each of which are being prescribed to treat various medical conditions. The three main forms of medicinal cannabis are:

• Pharmaceutical cannabis products: In Australia medical cannabis products are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). They include a range of products such as cannabis oil, cannabis edibles and cannabis pills.
• Controlled herbal cannabis: This related to plant products made in a controlled, certified and standardised manufacturing process. In some instances this is raw cannabis plant material processed in a specific manner.
• Illegal herbal cannabis: Unregulated and purchased illegally, these plant products have variable quality and contain unknown concentrations of cannabinoid content or other chemicals which could be potentially harmful. These are classified as an illicit narcotic drugs.

Medicinal cannabis products

Our focus is to provide useful information on pharmaceutical cannabis products available in Australia. Medicinal cannabis products created using the cannabis plant extract include:

• CBD Oil
• Edibles
• Pills
• Flower
• Vape
• Seeds
• Creams

We are seeing the use of cannabis expand beyond the medical industry into areas such as cosmetics. There are now products available such as THC cosmetic creams and make-up. Moreover, there are now animal-specific medicinal products including cannabis oil for dogs in Australia. All medicinal cannabis products available in Australia are tested by the TGA to ensure they meet the required standards relating to health, safety, quality and effectiveness. This provides general practitioners and other doctors with the critical information needed to prescribe cannabis products for medicinal use.

The benefits of medicinal cannabis

With more information available today than ever before, the benefits of medicinal cannabis are becoming more prevalent. To appreciate the benefits, it is essential to first understand how medicinal cannabis products effect the body.

The human body comprises of an endocannabinoid system (ECS) that plays a vital role in regulating numerous physical and cognitive processes. The ECS comprises of three key components:

• Endocannabinoids: These help internal functions operate fluently and are produced naturally by the body as required. Two notable endocannabinoids are anandamide (AMA) and 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG)
• Receptors: Found throughout the body and trigger the ECS to react once endocannabinoids bind to them. CBD1 receptors are present in the central nervous system while CB2 receptors are found in the peripheral nervous system.
• Enzymes: Break down endocannabinoids once they have carried out their function.

Now that we understand how the ECS works it becomes easier to understand the benefits of medicinal cannabis.

As the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is linked to an array of processes and bodily functions, the active ingredients and cannabinoid content in medicinal cannabis can help with:

• Chronic pain
• Inflammation
• Stress and mood
• Sleep disorders
• Appetite, anorexia and metabolism
• Skin and nerve function

Persons who are benefiting from medicinal cannabis include cancer patients, those suffering from epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, along with those in palliative care.

Side effects of medicinal cannabis use

The aspect of medicinal cannabis that has drawn significant attention from medical practitioners and the public is the impact of its use. As is the case with most medicines, there are short term adverse effects and long term side effects associated with most medicinal cannabis products. The key takeaway from research is that the side effects vary depending on the medicinal cannabis product being used and the active ingredients contained within.

For instance, the cannabinoid known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is associated with giving people a ‘high’. In comparison, other cannabinoids such as those present in CBD oil do not provide patients with a high but result in a feeling of relation and decreased anxiety. Studies into the side effects of medicinal cannabis and clinical trials continue, but as of today reported side effects include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Bloodshot eyes
• Altered blood pressure
• Elevated heartbeat
• Impaired balance

For safe supply of medicinal cannabis in Australia, patients are strongly advised to speak to a medical professional or contact their local medicinal cannabis clinic.

Who can legally use medicinal cannabis products in Australia?

Before enquiring about medicinal cannabis patients need to be aware that under current legislation in Australia, medicinal cannabis cannot be used as an initial treatment for a medical condition. Patients must first explore other medicines before being eligible to access medical cannabis.

Anyone wanting to access medicinal cannabis as a treatment option should seek advice from a medical practitioner of qualified cannabis doctor. They will be able to assess your health and other medications being used before providing a prescription for the appropriate medicinal cannabis product. Eligible patients can them gain access to medicinal cannabis by applying via the Special Access Scheme (SAS) or Authorised Prescriber Scheme (APs).

In relation to medicinal cannabis cost in Australia, there are currently no medicinal cannabis products being subsidised under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS). For more information on cannabis products and access pathways read detailed articles available on the Everything Green blog.