CBD Oil Melbourne

Melbourne, Treat a range of health conditions with CBD oil and learn more about access and eligibility

Treat a range of health conditions and help relieve symptoms with medicinal cannabis products and CBD oil Melbourne. In Australia, patient access is regulated by the Australian government, where controlled medical cannabis and hemp products can help enhance quality of life.

CBD oil in Melbourne explained

Medical cannabis is a broad term which includes medicinal cannabis products like CBD oil. Medicinal cannabis is also known as medical marijuana, where products are derived from the cannabis plant for medicinal purposes.

Although used for centuries for its healing properties, medical cannabis was legalised by the Australian government in 2016 and is accessible by eligible patients across Australia including Melbourne for therapeutic benefit.

Even though accessible, medical cannabis products including CBD oil are regulated by the Australian government to ensure quality of products and eligibility of patients.

How CBD oil works

The body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for keeping your body in balance. Even though the endocannabinoid system produces endocannabinoids endogenously, an endocannabinoid deficiency can give rise to a number of health issues. The cannabis plant produces phytocannabinoids which your body interprets as endocannabinoids. This is how the cannabis plant can help to treat various health conditions.

Even though there are more than 60 cannabinoid compounds found in the cannabis plant, the two most researched cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). There are also about 140 terpenes in the cannabis plant. Found in all plants, terpenes are responsible for how a plant smells and tastes, leading to the additional therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy. CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and diluting it with a carrier oil.

While cannabis oil and hemp seed oil are both plant extracts from the cannabis plant— also known as the hemp plant—there is a difference based on their derivation. Cannabis oil comes from the flowers, leaves and stalks of the cannabis plant whereas hemp seed oil comes from the seeds of the cannabis plant.

CBD oil uses and effects – what do I need to know?

CBD oil (cannabidiol oil) is known for its positive therapeutic uses without the psychotropic (mind-altering) effect of THC (tetrahydroncannabinol). Even though low dose CBD containing products (up to a maximum of 150 mg/day) is technically available to buy over-the-counter without a prescription at pharmacies across Australia, at present there are no TGA approved products on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) that meet the Schedule 3 criteria.

This means CBD oil can only be bought with a prescribing doctor’s prescription from a pharmacy following the government’s TGA guidelines. The reason why low dose CBD products are not yet available to buy over-the-counter is because clinical trials are required to pass a lengthy registration process to ensure efficacy and patient safety.

Accessing CBD oil in Melbourne

Medical cannabis became legal in Australia in 2016 whereby the Federal government’s Office of Drug Control (ODC) regulates and awards licenses to applicants or companies for the manufacture, cultivation and supply of medical cannabis, satisfying the Office of Drug Control’s criteria. On the patient side, eligibility for medical cannabis is also regulated by the Australian government through the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

To access CBD oil in Melbourne a patient needs a prescription from a medical practitioner under the TGA’s Special Access Scheme (SAS) or from an authorised prescriber. A prescribing doctor will first assess a patient’s eligibility through the government’s TGA framework via the Special Access Scheme (SAS) or Authorised Prescriber (AP) on prescription only.

Most pharmacists across Australia can dispense medical cannabis products subject to prescription. This applies to CBD, THC or combination CBD/ THC products.

CBD oil eligibility requirements in Melbourne

If you’re based in Melbourne, the same eligibility criteria applies for CBD oil in Victoria as in the rest of Australia. The Australian government has outlined the CBD oil eligibility requirements as follows:

• You have a chronic condition which has endured for at least three months.
• You have exhausted conventional medicine treatment options or experienced intolerable side effects to conventional treatment.
• You need to be over 18 years of age and an Australian resident.

Check If You Are Eligible

Why use CBD oil and medical cannabis

While cannabis has been used for therapeutic purposes for centuries, medical cannabis has been legal in Australia since 2016 regulated by the Australian government’s Office of Drug Control (ODC) and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). With growing interest and positive outcomes, although still in relative infancy, there have been numerous positive patient outcomes evidenced through clinical trials and research. CBD oil has proven successful in patients with varied health issues relating to mood, pain, inflammation, metabolism, brain function, nerve function and cardiovascular function.

The way CBD oil and medical cannabis products works to promote better health in patients is through the endocannabinoid system (ECS), made up of endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes. Your body interprets phytocannabinoids from the cannabis plant in the same way as endocannabinoids found in the body. In this way CBD oil can help restore your body’s balance to treat a range of health issues.

In Australia under the government’s Office of Drug Control (ODC), medical cannabis products are controlled and monitored for toxins and pesticides (a marked difference between legal medical cannabis and illegal street cannabis).

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) categorises cannabis products by active ingredients ranging from Category 1 with more than 98% CBD as the active ingredient (still Schedule 4, prescription only and not over-the-counter). Other categories under the TGA are Category 2,3 and 4 Schedule 8 Controlled Drugs because of these medical cannabis products’ levels of THC as active ingredients.

Health benefits of CBD oil and medicinal cannabis

CBD (cannabidiol) is a less potent and non-addictive cannabinoid formulated as the active ingredient in various medicinal cannabis products to treat a range of health issues. CBD has very low toxicity and is typically prescribed to treat seizure, pain, anxiety and inflammation.

Considerations when taking CBD oil and medicinal cannabis products

Medical cannabis is medication which means there can be side effects when taking CBD oil. Depending on the product formulation and active ingredients (CBD, THC, or a combination), side effects may vary from person to person. CBD is not psychotropic and is not known to have serious side effects. This is in contrast to THC which can have psychotropic effects and can result in a range of side effects.  Our doctors are knowledgeable about product formulation and potential side effects so when THC is prescribed, treatment will start with small doses. Smoking or vaping medical cannabis is not advised due to risk of lung health damage.

Different forms CBD oil comes in – what’s right for you?

The TGA categorises medical cannabis products by active ingredients. From Category 1 Schedule 4 Prescription Only with more than 98% CBD through to Category 2, 3, and 4 Schedule 8 Controlled Drugs with increasing levels of THC.

In Australia, medical cannabis products are highly regulated to ensure patient safety. In determining what’s right for you your doctor will assess your health, your medical history and medication, as well as eligibility within the government’s TGA framework. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the TGA can approve a prescribing doctor’s prescription within days. Your doctor will discuss the different forms of CBD oil and what’s right for you. General forms of CBD include CBD oil, CBD cream, and CBD gummies.

Looking to buy CBD oil? Cost of CBD oil in Melbourne

Even though medical cannabis is legal in Australia, it is an unapproved therapeutic good which is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS). This means the cost of medical cannabis is not subsidised by the government. If you’re looking to buy CBD oil, depending on your unique requirements and type of product and dosage, costs will vary from patient to patient.

Although products typically cost between $4-8 per day. The starting point is to assess your eligibility. This requires a registered healthcare practitioner assessing your situation and submitting your application to the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) for approval. An initial consultation with our doctors, which includes TGA approval, costs $129 with follow-up consultations costing $69.

The legality of CBD oil in Melbourne

CBD oil is a medicinal cannabis product and is legal in Melbourne and across Australia. High quality medical cannabis products like CBD oil provide health benefits where conventional medicine has intolerable side effects or proves ineffective. Patient eligibility is determined through the government’s TGA Special Access Scheme (SAS).

In Australia, medical cannabis products are regulated and controlled by the government. The TGA categorises medical cannabis from Category 1 (which is more than 98% CBD; also known as full spectrum because of its very small amounts of THC), through to Category 4 (with high levels of THC). To understand what CBD product is right for you and its therapeutic benefits, speak to a registered healthcare professional or one of our doctors.

Prescribing CBD oil in Melbourne and across Australia

In Australia, a registered doctor can prescribe CBD oil to a patient that meets the TGA’s eligibility criteria, either through the Special Access Scheme (SAS) or from an Authorised Prescriber. Pharmacies across Australia can dispense CBD oil subject to a doctor’s prescription approved by the TGA. The same broad regulatory process applies in assessing medical cannabis for therapeutic use in Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Sydney, Perth or anywhere across Australia.

Medical conditions CBD oil and medical cannabis products can help treat

The TGA have provided data on a range of medical conditions that have been approved for medical cannabis treatment. These include:

• Chronic pain
• Epilepsy/seizure management
• Cancer pain
• Neuropathic pain
• Anxiety/depression
• PTSD
• Migraine
• Arthritis
• Fybromyalgia
• Sleep disorders
• Spasticity from neurological conditions, and autism symptoms

Even though medical cannabis products offer relief for many patients, because medical cannabis is medication, it can have side effects. This is why treatment often starts with a low dose, similar to all new medication.

Disclaimer

We do not include or encourage the use of medical cannabis. How cannabis affects a person depends on many factors including dosage and tolerance, and results can vary. Some people may experience side effects when taking cannabinoid medication. The information provided by NectarTek is purely for educational and informational purposes only. For medical advice, always speak with your doctor or authorised medical practitioner.

Why choose NectarTek?

NectarTek are specialists and leaders in medical cannabis manufacturing, education and patient access supported by a growing doctor network. Our high quality medicinal cannabis products includes CBD products and CBD oil, with a focus on patient wellness and recovery. If you’re considering to buy CBD oil, the starting point is to speak to your doctor to discuss your needs and assess your eligibility. You can also connect with one of our doctors to learn more. If you’re eligible for CBD products, subject to TGA approval, NectarTek is trusted to deliver affordable and high quality medical cannabis across Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns and Adelaide.

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