Changes to Schedule 8 permit requirements for Schedule 8 medicinal cannabis
17 February 2022
The Department of Health has contacted AMA Victoria to advise that from 28 February 2022, Schedule 8 permits for Schedule 8 medicinal cannabis will not be required for non-drug dependent patients. Prescribers are still required to check SafeScript each time before prescribing any Schedule 8 medicinal cannabis products. See here for the change.
This means, for non-drug dependent patients, prescribers no longer need to apply and hold a Schedule 8 permit when prescribing Schedule 8 medicinal cannabis. For drug-dependent patients, the requirement to apply and hold a Schedule 8 permit before prescribing remains unchanged.
This regulatory change has been introduced following assessment of regulatory burden on prescribers prescribing Schedule 8 medicinal cannabis for low-risk patients where additional safeguards are now available following implementation of SafeScript in Victoria.
Prescribers still need to apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to access unapproved medicinal cannabis products via the Special Access Scheme (SAS) or Authorised Prescriber pathway.
Members are encouraged to contact Senior Policy Adviser, Lewis Horton, at LewisH@amavic.com.au if they have any questions regarding this change, and these will be passed on to the Department.
