Department of Health

Key messages

  • Victoria is leading a national study investigating the use of medicinal cannabis in partnership with the University of Melbourne, and Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics (University of Sydney).
  • The study uses online surveys over a 12 month period to collect information from patients about the effects of medicinal cannabis treatment.
  • The results of this study will enable a better assessment of the effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis products prescribed in Australia.

About the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Study

Despite the growing number of medicinal cannabis products being prescribed, there remains a significant scientific evidence gap relating to the safety, effectiveness, routes of administration and formulations of medicinal cannabis products. As a result, doctors need to rely on limited evidence to justify and guide the clinical use of medicinal cannabis.

To help address this evidence gap, the Victorian Office of Medicinal Cannabis is leading a national study of medicinal cannabis use in Australia. Patients that have been legally prescribed medicinal cannabis have been asked to participate in online voluntary surveys, providing information about their experience with medicinal cannabis.

The surveys collect information focusing on the patterns of use, effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabis products prescribed in Australia. The results of this study will be made available to researchers for further analysis, and provide much needed information to guide policy decisions relating to medicinal cannabis in Australia.

If you are a patient that has been prescribed a medicinal cannabis product within the past 6 weeks, you may participate in the study by submitting a Patient SurveyExternal Link .

Project partners

This project has been developed by the Victorian Office of Medicinal Cannabis, Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the University of Melbourne, Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, University of Sydney, and key health services.

Ethics approval to begin the study was granted by the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee.

Results

The Australian Medicinal Cannabis Study began in late 2018 and will recruit participants over a 3 year period, with final surveys completed 15 months later.

Initial results of the study will be made available in a de-identified, aggregate form and published on this page twice annually.

The final results of the study will be published following the completion of the study and after a further period of time to allow for adequate analysis to take place.

Initial results

No results available.

Reviewed 11 February 2019

Health.vic

Contact details

Office of Medicinal Cannabis Department of Health

Was this page helpful?