CBD Now available Over the Counter in Australia. Yeah, Nah

Australian Pharmacies can now sell CBD Over the Counter

Big changes in CBD regulation across the Tasman mean little for patients just yet

On February 1st, Australian pharmacies were able to sell low dose CBD containing products to patients without a prescription for the first time. However despite the regulations being put into effect by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) there aren’t any products for sale.

It will take months to years before any products can actually be sold as products will be required to undergo the same level of scientific scrutiny as any other Schedule 3 Pharmacist Only Medicine. This mean rigorous safety and efficacy studies will be required to show the benefit of CBD in doses up to 150mg/day.

Sponsoring companies can now lodge an application to the TGA for inclusion of Schedule 3 CBD preparations on the ARTG. Applications are individually evaluated for safety, efficacy and quality.

The change could prove to be a windfall for Medicinal Cannabis companies and patients alike promising easier access and potentially lower prices.

Manufacturers are working at a “lightning” rate to get products approved, former president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Kos Sclavos, said.

Products will still be user pays for some time though with the Australian equivalent of PHARMAC, the Pharmacy Benefits Scheme, unlikely to be prepared to fund the medicine in the short to medium term. Until these OTC products become available, Australian patients can continue to obtain unapproved medicinal cannabis from their doctors under the Special Access Scheme.