Australia’s AMCA (Australian Medical Cannabis Assoc) Has Published An “Interim Guidance regarding THC-based Medicinal Cannabis Treatment for Patients with Cannabis and/or other Substance Use Disorders”

Here the document in full for you to peruse.

Learn more about the AMCA at https://ausmca.org/

They write by way of introduction

The rapid expansion of medicinal cannabis treatment in Australia has resulted in (an estimated) >500,000 Australians having been prescribed a THC-based medicine1,2 predominately for indications such as chronic pain, mental health and sleep disorders. International and Australian studies indicate that a considerable proportion (between 10-20%3) of these patients meet criteria of cannabis dependence – as many as 50-100,000 Australians prescribed THC-based medicines. 

To minimise risks and optimise patient safety, clinicians should consider specific evidence-informed approaches when providing THC-based medicinal cannabis treatment to patients with cannabis dependence. There has been little to no guidance provided to date for clinicians, consumers or regulators on what is good clinical practice in this clinical context. In part this is because of the unique framework in Australia for prescription of medicinal cannabis – whereby medical/nurse practitioners prescribe specific preparations, concentrations and quantities with dosing instructions (like other medicines) and these are dispensed at a pharmacy. This contrasts with most international settings in which medical cannabis is available – whereby medical practitioners generally authorise a patients access to medical cannabis – but allow patients to choose their own products and quantities at cannabis dispensaries4. 

The approaches described in this document are similar to those recommended for responsible prescribing of other medications that have the potential for ‘iatrogenic dependence’ or misuse – such as opioids and benzodiazepines56. It is timely that guidelines are developed to address this gap in the medicinal cannabis literature. ,

This interim guidance document has been developed by the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association, with input from experienced medical practitioners, nurses, pharmacists and researchers who are AMCA members. Further consultation with a broader range of consumers, clinicians and academics will be sought in coming months, with a view to updating the document.