I’m a GP Thinking About Prescribing Medicinal Cannabis. Where Do I Start?
A plain-English FAQ course for mainstream Australian GPs
| Course purpose
This course is for the mainstream GP who is not yet an Authorised Prescriber, is not running a cannabis clinic, and is simply starting to wonder whether medicinal cannabis is an area they should understand or enter. It begins before the first prescription. |
| Audience | General practitioners, practice owners, clinical leads, and GP registrars who want a practical overview before prescribing. |
| Level | Introductory. This is a decision-making and regulatory orientation course, not a dosing course. |
| Format | FAQ style. Each module answers the questions a normal GP is likely to ask before getting involved. |
| Version date | 29 April 2026. Always check current TGA, Ahpra, and state or territory requirements before acting. |
Important note: This document is for educational purposes. It is not legal advice, specialist clinical advice, or a dosing guide. It does not replace current TGA, Ahpra, state or territory, medical defence, or local practice advice.
Introduction
This course starts at the real beginning: a patient asks about medicinal cannabis, or the GP notices that more patients are asking, and the GP starts thinking: should I learn about this? Could I prescribe it? What is involved?
The course does not assume that the GP is ready to prescribe today. It does not assume the GP is already an Authorised Prescriber. It does not present medicinal cannabis as a quick product choice. It treats the subject as a clinical governance decision: assessment, justification, consent, documentation, state rules, supply, monitoring, and review.
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Core message The safe starting point is not an automatic yes, nor is it an automatic no. The safe starting point is informed, selective, clinically justified care. |
Course map
| Module | Plain-English focus | What the GP should leave with |
| 1 | The first question | Why is this not just ordinary prescribing? |
| 2 | Why even consider this area? | A balanced clinical reason to learn without overcommitting. |
| 3 | The regulatory picture | The difference between access, approval, prescribing, and follow-up. |
| 4 | SAS Category B | The likely first pathway for one patient. |
| 5 | Authorised Prescriber | Why AP usually comes later, not first. |
| 6 | Clinical governance | How to avoid script-first and product-first practice. |
| 7 | The first patient conversation | How to discuss suitability, limits, cost, and expectations. |
| 8 | State and territory overlay | Why local rules still matter after TGA approval. |
| 9 | After approval | Supply, prescribing details, follow-up, and adverse event reporting. |
| 10 | Decision checklist | A practical readiness tool for GPs. |
Course Delivery
- Fully Online: Participants can access the course content at any time from any device connected to the internet.
Technical Requirements
- Device Requirements: Access to a computer or mobile device with internet connectivity.
Certification
- Certificate of Completion: After reviewing all course sections, participants can download a certificate to encourage participation and acknowledge their learning.
Where can you find your Certificate?
More free courses https://www.courses.generalpracticetraining.com.au/
More free resources for General Practice at our main website: https://generalpracticetraining.com.au/
