Safety and Contraindications in Medical Cannabis

Medical cannabis use has expanded significantly in recent years,¹ offering potential relief for many common conditions and symptoms such as chronic pain, nausea and vomiting, muscle spasms, sleep problems, epilepsy and some mental health conditions.²

While medical cannabis is generally considered to be "well tolerated," health practitioners and professionals must still maintain up-to-date knowledge on key considerations, including:^3,4

• Legislative contraindications and safety advice
• Potential adverse effects
• Drug-to-drug interactions
• Social and lifestyle impacts

Medical practitioners and professionals can make prescription and monitoring decisions based on these considerations^3,4

Preview this module by watching the video above.

Estimated Duration: 1 hours

Access Duration: 12 months from date of purchase

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this module, you’ll be able to:

• Identify the primary regulatory bodies overseeing medical cannabis in Australia and explain their roles
• Explain the origins and scope of the TGA's prescribing guidance documents
• Describe the current status of medical cannabis products in Australia and identify the TGA's access pathways for unapproved goods
• Identify conditions for which medical cannabis is contraindicated and associated risks
• Recount TGA-recommended information to include in a clinical assessment
• Discuss potential drug-drug interactions in medical cannabis treatment and their underlying mechanisms
• Explain the safety profile of medical cannabis and potential side effects
• Describe how THC may affect driving safety and summarise the resulting legislation and guidelines
• Compare THC’s potential impact on driving with that of other substances
• Describe cannabis' addictive potential and highlight relevant research gaps in this area
• Detail the symptoms, mechanisms of action, and potential impacts of cannabis dependence and cannabis use disorder
• Describe the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal and consider possible treatment options
• Explain the potential cognitive effects of cannabis use

To access this resource, please complete your purchase. Once purchased, the resource will be available in your learning portal.

We have included a complimentary, pre-filled CPD recording template. Learners who wish to claim CPD credits upon completion of this activity may complete this template and submit it to their relevant CPD home or accrediting body for CPD recognition.