Australian Medical Cannabis Clinics: Directory, Pricing & Telehealth Guide 2026

Last updated: January 2026

This page is for Australian patients who want to understand their options for accessing medical cannabis through a licensed prescriber. It covers how clinics operate, what telehealth consultations typically cost, which states have specific access rules, and what questions to ask before choosing a clinic. Medical cannabis in Australia is a prescription medicine regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Only an authorised prescriber or a doctor with an approved SAS Category B application can legally prescribe it to you.

How Medical Cannabis Prescribing Works in Australia

There are two main legal pathways through which a doctor can prescribe an unapproved medical cannabis product in Australia:

• Special Access Scheme Category B (SAS B): The treating doctor applies to the TGA on behalf of an individual patient. Approval is typically granted within a few days for most applications. This is the most common pathway used by general practitioners and specialist clinics.
• Authorised Prescriber (AP): A specialist doctor receives TGA approval to prescribe a specific cannabis product to a class of patients without needing per-patient TGA approval. Patients seen by an AP may have a faster prescribing process at the clinic level.

A small number of products — currently Sativex and Epidyolex — are fully TGA-registered and can be prescribed under standard PBS or private prescription rules without SAS or AP pathways, though access remains limited.

Patients in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory are all able to access medical cannabis under these federal pathways, but some states have additional scheduling or dispensing rules that affect how your prescription is filled. Speak with your clinic and pharmacist about your specific state requirements.

Types of Medical Cannabis Clinics in Australia

Dedicated Cannabis Clinics (Telehealth-First)

These are specialist services that focus primarily or exclusively on medical cannabis prescribing. Most operate via telehealth video consultation, which means patients anywhere in Australia can access them without travelling. Initial consultations typically include a review of your medical history and existing conditions. A referral from your GP is not always required, though some clinics request one for complex conditions or controlled substance prescriptions.

GP Clinics with a Cannabis-Trained Doctor

Some general practices have GPs who have completed additional training in cannabinoid medicine (for example, through the Australian Medical Cannabis Association or similar bodies). Seeing your own GP can have advantages — they know your full medical history and can coordinate your overall care — though not all GPs are comfortable prescribing cannabis products.

Specialist-Led Pain and Mental Health Clinics

Certain pain specialists, psychiatrists, and neurologists are authorised prescribers for specific indications such as chronic non-cancer pain, PTSD, anxiety disorders, or epilepsy. These clinics often involve a more detailed assessment process and may require a formal GP referral.

Clinic Comparison: Key Features to Consider

Typical Costs for Medical Cannabis Clinics in Australia (2026)

The following figures are representative ranges based on publicly available clinic information. Costs vary by provider, state, and whether a Medicare rebate applies. These are not guarantees of what you will pay.

• Initial consultation (no Medicare rebate): $49 – $199 out of pocket
• Initial consultation (with Medicare rebate, GP referral required): Bulk-billed to $80 out of pocket, depending on clinic and provider
• Follow-up consultations: $29 – $99 per session; frequency varies from monthly to every three months
• Product cost (oils, 30–50 mL): $80 – $250 per bottle; depends on concentration and brand
• Product cost (dried flower, per gram): $10 – $18 per gram at pharmacy; prescribed quantities vary
• Annual total (consultation + product, estimate): $1,500 – $4,000+ depending on dose, formulation, and consultation frequency

Medical cannabis products are not currently covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for most indications. Some private health funds cover consultation costs; check your policy under "specialist" or "mental health" benefits. Product costs are generally not covered by private health insurance.

Conflicts of Interest: What Patients Should Know

Some medical cannabis businesses in Australia operate clinics, pharmacies, and product brands under common or related ownership. This is legal, but it can create incentives to recommend particular products or dispensing pathways that may not represent the best clinical or financial outcome for the patient.

The Medical Board of Australia's Good Medical Practice guidelines require doctors to disclose any financial interest that could affect — or be seen to affect — their clinical decisions. You are entitled to ask your prescriber directly whether they have a financial relationship with any product manufacturer or pharmacy, and to request that your prescription be filled at a pharmacy of your choosing.

Choosing a clinic whose prescribers are not paid on commission or tied to product sales is one way to reduce this risk. Asking whether the doctor would prescribe across multiple brands for your condition is a reasonable question.

Recognised Clinics and Prescriber Finders

The following are legitimate, currently operating services patients commonly use. Inclusion here is not an endorsement, and AusCannaHub does not have commercial relationships with any of the below. Patients should conduct their own due diligence.

• CanView Clinic Finder (canview.com.au) — patient-facing portal listing clinics and telehealth services across Australia
• Cannatrek Connect — telehealth service operating nationally
• Antibe Telehealth / Polln — telehealth-first service with same-week appointments available in most states
• Alternaleaf — telehealth service; publicly discloses its pharmacy partnerships
• CDA Clinics — specialist-led clinic with locations in major cities and telehealth
• Releaf Group — national telehealth service with GP and nurse practitioner-led models
• Your GP — many GPs can apply for SAS B on your behalf; ask directly if your GP is willing

This list is not exhaustive. The TGA does not maintain a public directory of authorised prescribers by name, but you can ask any clinic whether their doctors hold AP status and for which indications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to see a medical cannabis clinic?

Most dedicated cannabis clinics allow self-referral for an initial consultation. However, a GP referral is generally required to access Medicare rebates on specialist fees. Some conditions — particularly those requiring opioid co-prescribing or complex psychiatric history — may require a referral for clinical safety reasons.

Is medical cannabis legal in all Australian states?

Yes. Medical cannabis prescribed under TGA approval pathways (SAS B or Authorised Prescriber) is legal in all states and territories. State and territory drug driving laws vary, however — in most states it is an offence to drive with any detectable level of THC in oral fluid, regardless of whether you hold a valid prescription. Check the road rules in your state before driving while using any cannabis product containing THC.

Can I use private health insurance to offset the cost?

Some private health insurers will cover medical cannabis clinic consultation fees under specialist or mental health extras cover, but coverage of the products themselves is uncommon. Check your policy directly. The Medicare Benefits Schedule covers some consultations when a GP referral is in place and the prescriber is a recognised specialist.

What conditions are commonly treated with medical cannabis in Australia?

The most frequently approved indications in Australian TGA data include chronic non-cancer pain, insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and palliative care. Approval is based on individual clinical assessment — no condition guarantees approval, and your prescriber must determine that the potential benefits are appropriate for your circumstances.

How do I compare product prices once I have a prescription?

Your prescription can be filled at any Australian pharmacy licensed to dispense scheduled cannabis products. Retail prices vary significantly between pharmacies and brands. Online pharmacies such as Medleaf, CanView Pharmacy, and Chemist Warehouse (selected locations) have made product pricing more transparent. Ask your clinic whether your prescription is written generically or tied to a specific brand.

Sources

• Therapeutic Goods Administration — Special Access Scheme: tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/special-access-scheme-sas
• TGA — Authorised Prescribers: tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/authorised-prescribers
• TGA — Access to medicinal cannabis: tga.gov.au/products/medicinal-cannabis/access-medicinal-cannabis
• Medical Board of Australia — Good Medical Practice: medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Good-medical-practice.aspx
• Department of Health and Aged Care — Medicinal cannabis statistics: health.gov.au/our-work/medicinal-cannabis/medicinal-cannabis-statistics
• Lacey J, et al. (2021). "Medicinal cannabis in Australia." Australian Prescriber, 44(6): 191–196. australianprescriber.com/magazine/44/6/191/6