Medical cannabis and hemp products are legal in Australia as carefully controlled and regulated therapeutic options for a range of health conditions. To find out how to access CBD oil in Sydney and to check your eligibility to buy medicinal cannabis products, contact our team.
The complete guide to buying CBD oil in Sydney
Medical cannabis became legal in Australia in 2016 for therapeutic use to treat a number of health issues and symptoms. Although the cannabis plant contains more than 60 cannabinoid compounds, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) are the two most researched and well-known cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant.
The primary difference between THC and CBD is that THC has a psychoactive effect giving people a feeling of being ‘high’. Whereas CBD produces an anti-psychoactive effect which controls or moderates the ‘high’ caused by THC. CBD has also shown to reduce other negative effects people may experience from THC, such as anxiety.
CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then diluting with a carrier oil like coconut oil or hemp seed oil.
What is medicinal cannabis used for?
Medical cannabis has been used for centuries for therapeutic reasons to relieve and treat a number of health issues (Medical cannabis is sometimes also referred to as medical marijuana).Today medicinal cannabis products in Australia are legal and considered a viable treatment option for a range of medical conditions where traditional medicine is ineffective or has unbearable side effects.
While widespread research and clinical trials are in the early stages, medical cannabis is used to treat several conditions which include:
- Glaucoma
- Low appetite
- Chronic pain
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Psychosis disorders
- Seizures and epilepsy
- Neurodegenerative disorders i.e. multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Tumour growth
- Cancer-cell growth
How CBD oil can help. The benefits of CBD oil.
Medical cannabis products help to treat various health ailments by working with your body’s endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is responsible for keeping your body functioning optimally and in balance (homeostasis). Endocannabinoids occur naturally in your body. The endocannabinoid system is made up of endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), receptors and enzymes. An endocannabinoid deficiency is thought to cause a number of health issues. This is how medical cannabis can help.
Phytocannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant and are interpreted as endocannabinoids by your body which can support the body’s functioning. The two main cannabinoid compounds found in the cannabis plant are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These phytocannabinoids compounds work with your body’s endocannabinoid system.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is cannabis oil derived from the cannabis plant. CBD can trigger a range of endocannabinoid system responses and help to regulate and improve a number of bodily functions, including sleep, mood, appetite and memory.
Medical conditions CBD oil is good for
CBD products and CBD oil in Australia have a number of health benefits. While still in its infancy, medical cannabis research points to positive outcomes with a range of benefits of CBD. Medical conditions CBD oil may help with include:
- Paediatric and young adult epilepsy
- Management of nausea and vomiting, especially in chemotherapy setting
- Non-cancer chronic pain
- Palliative care
- Anxiety and depression
- Insomnia
- Cancer
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Appetite disorders
- Endometriosis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Inflammatory conditions
To discuss your specific symptoms and needs, and for diagnosis and eligibility, speak to a healthcare professional to learn more about what medical conditions CBD oil can help with. For low-dose CBD, even though it’s legal to buy CBD oil without a script in Australia, to date low-dose CBD is not available over-the-counter at pharmacies without a TGA approved prescription.
Can CBD oil products be bought over-the-counter without a script in Australia?
Even though it became legal in Australia in early 2021 to purchase medical cannabis products containing low-dose CBD (less than 150 milligrams cannabidiol a day), you won’t find over-the-counter preparations at your local pharmacist.
This is because no product containing CBD has been approved by the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)—which is a requirement of pharmacist sale. Approval by the ARTG means regulatory quality data on a range of TGA standards and testing in regulatory grade laboratories. This means you need a prescription to buy CBD oil in NSW. Current directive by the Office of Drug Control is that both the states and territories and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have a role in approving patient access.
Do you need a prescription to buy CBD oil in NSW?
With many health benefits and wellness outcomes, CBD oil and medical cannabis products is considered a viable alternative to conventional medication for many patients across Australia. But a prescription from your GP or healthcare practitioner is required to buy CBD oil in NSW and other high quality medical cannabis products—even low-dose CBD. Because no product containing CBD has been approved by the ARTG, which is a requirement of pharmacist sale.
The Australian government’s TGA patient access eligibility encompasses a number of criteria. These include a patient’s symptoms which don’t respond to conventional medicine for 3 months and/or the patient experiences intolerable side effects. This TGA eligibility applies to both CBD isolate (pure form of CBD) and full spectrum CBD (which may contain some THC), and all other medical cannabis products.
Patients can access medical cannabis products in Australia through the TGA’s special access scheme (SAS), authorised prescriber scheme or clinical trials. The first step is to meet with a medical practitioner or health professional to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. Pharmacists in Sydney, and across NSW and the rest of Australia are permitted to dispense medical cannabis products and CBD oil to patients with a TGA approved prescription.
What is the difference between medical cannabis and marijuana? And hemp products?
Medical cannabis is legal in Australia, regulated and controlled by the Federal government for medicinal use and therapeutic benefit. Marijuana is not legal and not controlled and can be contaminated and harmful. The main active ingredient in marijuana is THC found in the leaves and flowering parts of the cannabis plant.
Like medical cannabis, hemp products are also derived from the same species of plant as the cannabis plant—cannabis sativa. Scientifically, the cannabis plant is the same as a hemp plant. Legally, the difference between cannabis products and hemp products is the level of THC. According to the Australian government’s Office of Drug Control, hemp products are defined under Australian state and territory law which applies to the cannabis plant, where in most jurisdictions, hemp may not contain more that 1% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Within hemp products, hemp oil is typically a hemp plant extract derived from the entire plant (leaves, buds, stems) whereas hemp seed oil is derived from the hemp plant seeds.
Terpenes are another naturally occurring chemical compound found in all plants and flowers responsible for aroma, flavours and colours. For medical cannabis specifically, terpene profiles are thought to impact their effect, together with cannabinoid content.
Different types of medicinal cannabis products available: Categorising active ingredients THC & CBD
The Australian government’s TGA categorises medicinal cannabis products by their active ingredients. All categories comprise different ratios of CBD, THC and cannabinoids as active ingredients, where all active ingredients are derived from the cannabis plant.
- Category 1: CBD medicinal cannabis product (CBD ≥ 98%); Schedule 4 Prescription Only medicine
- Category 2: CBD dominant medicinal cannabis product (CBD ≥ 60% and < 98%); Schedule 8 Controlled Drugs
- Category 3: Balanced medicinal cannabis product (CBD <60% and ≥ 40%); Schedule 8 Controlled Drugs
- Category 4: THC dominant medicinal cannabis product (THC 60% – 98%); Schedule 8 Controlled Drugs
Most popular products
Medication should never be taken due to popularity but rather due to effectiveness to treat specific ailments, often unique to a patient. While medical cannabis is becoming more widely accepted as a viable treatment option, each patient’s circumstances need to be assessed by a medical practitioner to prescribe the right medication, formulation, dosage and treatment plan.
There are three main types of medical cannabis products:
- Isolate: which is only CBD or only THC
- Full spectrum: which contain a range of cannabinoids including CBD and THC in different ratios
- Broad spectrum: which contain a range of cannabinoids and cannabis constituents but no THC
Medicinal cannabis products are also available in various formats, which include: capsules, chewables, creams, flowers, oil, sprays and tinctures.
For all medication, it’s crucial to know the ingredients, check disclaimers, understand side effects and ensure you’ve spoken to a trusted healthcare professional before starting treatment. Follow-up consultations with your healthcare professional are also key to a successful and holistic treatment plan.
How much does CBD oil cost in Sydney?
Depending on your symptoms and health conditions, treatment type and dosage will vary from patient to patient. The first step in medical cannabis access is checking your eligibility with a health professional. After a consultation and full understanding of your condition, if appropriate and your prescription is TGA approved (which is a quick process if you’re eligible), CBD oil can be prescribed.
The cost of CBD oil in Sydney will depend on the CBD oil formulation and dosage prescribed. Because medical cannabis products are not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), a patient needs to pay for treatment. Medical cannabis products typically cost $4-8 per day but can vary greatly depending on the dosage and type of product prescribed.
All this should be discussed with your healthcare professional. You can also speak to a NectarTek team member. We are able to run a quick eligibility check, and if you’re eligible, we can book a consultation with one of our doctors (where consultation fees apply). If a medical cannabis product including CBD oil is considered suitable for you, we can arrange a prescription delivered to your home or to a pharmacy.
What is the best CBD oil in Sydney?
When it comes to your health and treatment options—from conventional medicine to medical cannabis—always choose quality products from trusted and known companies and brands. This includes buying CBD oil.
NectarTek is a respected award-winning manufacturing facility committed to refining and perfecting its gold standard range of medical cannabis distillates, isolates and medicines. As a member of the Medical Cannabis Industry Australia (MCIA), we adhere and comply with the MCIA Code of Practice. The Code supports and promotes a well-functioning, reputable medicinal cannabis industry through high standards of integrity, trust, accountability and assurance.
Finding out if you are eligible to access CBD oil in Australia
Medical cannabis products which includes CBD oil in Australia are legally available to buy with a TGA approved prescription. This first step is to speak to a healthcare professional to discuss your condition and CBD oil eligibility. Patient eligibility criteria depends on:
- Having had the condition for 3 months or more
- Having tried conventional medicine
- Conventional treatment proved ineffective or caused intolerable side effects
Get in touch to find out more about medical cannabis products in Australia and CBD oil in Sydney, and to check your eligibility. Or if you have any other medical cannabis FAQs, make contact with our team.
