Doctors Can Now Prescribe Medical Cannabis in New South Wales, Australia
A map of Australia with New South Wales highlighted dark orange.
Licensed physicians in New South Wales (NSW) can now legally prescribe the use of medical cannabis to patients who need it, thanks to a new law that officially went into effect on August 1st.
Under previous law cannabis-based medicines were only allowed through strict clinical trials, but changes to the law allow those outside of a research trial to use the medicine, so long as a physician believes that it will help their medical ailment.
“People who are seriously ill should be able to access these medicines if they are the most appropriate next step in their treatment,” NSW Premier Mike Baird said yesterday.
Under the new law a system of licensed medical cannabis outlets will supply medicine to patients, who will be allowed to possess up to 15 grams of cannabis flower, 1 gram of cannabis oil and 2.5 grams of cannabis resin.
Further information on NSW’s medical cannabis law can be found by clicking here.