Talking to your doctor

 

We know your health care is very important to you which is why we want to encourage you to talk to your doctor about your medical cannabis treatment.  Patients depend on their doctors to direct them towards treatments and therapies that will be of benefit to them, and away from those that may cause harm.  

Having an open and honest relationship with your doctor is one of the most important parts of good health and there is nothing wrong or illegal about discussing medical cannabis and your cannabis use with your doctor.  Your doctor cannot discriminate against you for discussing your use of cannabis.  

 

Be honest; share your experience and be prepared to tell your doctor how you feel and the effects of the medications you have tried. Your doctor needs to know how cannabis affects your health and how it interacts with your medical regime.  Let him/her know what's worked and what's not and why you think medical cannabis might be a possible solution.  

 

If you've tried cannabis and found it to be safe and effective in alleviating your symptoms, let your doctor know.  If accessing a safe or legal supply of medical cannabis is important to you, and you are concerned about the potential risks of illegal access or poor quality product, ask your doctor to apply through the Commonwealth Special Access Scheme for a legal supply of medical cannabis.

 

Be resolved; share your thoughts.  Doctors are accustomed to patients bringing their own ideas to them about treatment options and their preferences for particular medicines, and cannabis treatment should be no different.  

 

Do your best to share your thoughts with your doctor. If he/she still can't help you or if you have a negative experience or if your doctor will not discuss cannabis treatment with you, you may choose to perservere or visit another doctor who may be more willing to discuss cannabis.

Be patient; share the journey.  While your doctor has spent countless hours obtaining education during medical school, residency, and fellowship; there has been no formal education provided to doctors in the area of medical cannabis or the endocannabinoid system so patients may need to educate doctors about the use and benefits of cannabis until training programs are in place.   

 

Doctors and patients are exploring what the new law changes mean for them and how to obtain treatment. So whether you are already using cannabis or looking to find more information about cannabis as a treatment option, it's imperative your doctor has all the information before decisions are made regarding your health care.  

 

Ultimately, doctors should make decisions based on evidence, clinical justification as well as common sense, so be prepared to help your doctor understand what you have learned and how you feel.  Together, you are more likely to find the best solution for you.

 

Healthcare choices reflect a number of considerations, but ultimately it's every patient's right to decide what treatment options are best for them.

 

Some pointers

 

No matter what doctor you see or what your doctor's views are, here are some pointers:

 

• Be forthright. Tell your doctor specifically what conditions or symptoms you are using the cannabis to treat. 

• Describe how long you've had the condition or symptoms, when you began treatment with cannabis, the amount of cannabis you use, how often, and the delivery method you use.

• Ask your doctor to document your cannabis treatment as they would any other medication. If you have documented your own use of cannabis in a diary or have made up your own Cannabis Treatment Plan discuss this with your doctor.

• If you have medical records related to your condition or symptoms take them with you.

• Be resourceful and share your research. There is an abundance of clinical studies online or you may come across other research to support your decision to use medical cannabis.  Being proactive in looking for information demonstrates your commitment to having a productive and informed discussion as well as taking control over your own health.

• As your doctor may be unfamiliar with the use of medical cannabis, take along copies of general as well as scientific research information specific to your condition.​

• Take copies of the draft cannabis treatment plan and informed consent form from this website to discuss with your doctor. 

• You may also consider taking along relevant SAS forms and website addresses to sites like the MCAG.

• You can take along a friend or family member as an advocate or for support. 

• If your doctor is still uncertain or has more questions be prepared to continue the conversation next visit.  

 

Cost of consultation

 

If your doctor bulk bills, a consultation with your family doctor to discuss the use of cannabis should be covered by Medicare, just like any other medical treatment option. 

 

Your doctor, pharmacist and the Special Access Scheme (SAS) and Personal Importation

 

We have put together some information and a flow chart for doctors, and patients considering applying to the TGA to access Medical Cannabis Treatment (MCT) via the Personal Importation Scheme or Special Access Scheme (SAS) to assist with navigating through the federal state process.  

 

While most doctors are familiar with the Special Access Scheme (SAS), MCT in a clinical setting is still very new in Queensland, with many doctors still unaware about the recent changes to the state's Health (Drugs and Poisons) that allow them to lawfully prescribe Schedule 8 and 9 cannabis, and pharmacists to dispense it.   

 

In addition, most doctors have not had training on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) or had the experience of using MCT in their practice. In many cases it's the patient providing the doctor with information about MCT, and the medical cannabis laws.   

 

Patient access under the Health Regulations is helping towards educating and helping health professionals gain knowledge and experience with the use of MCT, as well as developing the policy and guidelines that will be used for a wider medical cannabis program in Queensland for when locally made cannabis becomes available. 

 

Learn more about accessing cannabis treatment via the SAS, Personal Importation and Queensland state approval here.