To safeguard the health and wellbeing of veterans and ensure DVA is funding treatments that are safe and effective, DVA’s Medicinal Cannabis Framework has been updated.
DVA commenced funding medicinal cannabis for eligible veterans under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) in 2018. Since then, the funding of medicinal cannabis has been considered on a case-by-case for veterans living with chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, palliative care, anorexia and wasting from chronic illness, spasticity from neurological conditions, and refractory paediatric epilepsy – this is not changing.
The updated Framework applies immediately to veterans who have not previously been funded for medicinal cannabis prescriptions. DVA funded medicinal cannabis products must now be prescribed medical practitioners who have specialist registration with Ahpra. Additionally, as there is increasing evidence of harm associated with high concentration tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products and/or high doses of THC, with insufficient evidence of benefit, a daily dosage cap and THC concentration limit for dried herb medicinal cannabis products has been introduced.
Veterans who have previously received medicinal cannabis products containing high concentration THC and/or high doses of THC funded by DVA will continue to be provided with these products in the short term, under a six-month grandfathering period.
The transitional period allows veterans to work with their medicinal cannabis prescribers to adjust prescriptions, so that they meet the updated criteria in the Framework in a safe way.
If your prescriber does not have specialist registration with Ahpra, you will need to find a doctor that meets these requirements. The updated Framework also requires that your first prescription consultation is in-person.
Continuing under existing arrangements, DVA does not fund medicinal cannabis for mental health conditions.
The updated Framework will help DVA to continue to fund medicinal cannabis treatments that are both safe and effective.
More information is available on the DVA website, visit Medicinal cannabis | Department of Veterans' Affairs