Medical Access

[merl1n]

A couple of months ago I asked my GP about obtaining cannabis to treat my ongoing symptoms.

"Ohh ahhh, I don't know anything about the processes, I wouldn't know where to start..."

Being that I'm in SA and there being no clinic's here (our state Gov't (Liberal) still have their heads buried firmly up their own arses)  I thought the whole process would be a waste of time

I went investigating and found a clinic in NSW, who would go through the whole process online.

 

So after a couple of weeks of paperwork both from myself and my GP, today I got the call from the clinic and have had the initial approval.

I now have to obtain the approval from the TGA but from what I've been told this should not be a problem and should take less than a week.

The Dr I spoke to has told me that what he would be prescribing is a CBD and THC combination as my situation is pain related.

I asked the Dr about the cost of the medication itself as it is NOT on the PBS and I have to say it is NOT cheap.

The Dr himself would not actually tell me a defined cost but advised me to call the chemist in Victoria.

Upon doing so I was told $270/50ml + postage ($30), so $300 delivered. First thought "Fuck, it'd be cheaper to go buy an ounce" but have decided to follow through with the process.

 

At this point I have not been told of the recommended dosages, so how long that 50ml is going to last I am unsure.

I am also unsure if I may be able to get my local chemist to get it in for me or whether it needs to come from an approved compounding chemist, solely in Victoria.

 

So the processes have been started. The dr and the prepaid TGA approvals have cost me $550 so far (that's without the script itself), so let's see how much more it's gonna cost

When I have any further info I will let you all know.

 

Just thought others maybe interested

Merl1n

[merl1n]

I agree Seedsman. At the very least it should be under the PBS.

[seedsmanspain]

I think I posted a link to the NSW Nurses Association ealier who have a full time officer dedicated to promoting medicinal cannabis as an alternative to opioids and having it on the PBS.

 

The AMA are coming on board but its all way too slow for people in need NOW.

It is sad and frustrating.

Ta

Mick

[Dingo-2008]

Hi crew how ya all doing this fine day.

 

Hi Merlin,  Have you had any price rises for your cannabis medication in the past few months??.

 

As you know I changed to Terry White Pharmacy  Hawthorn ,As the cost of postage from there was $15.00 cheaper than from N,S,W, used to cost me $30.00 from N,S,W, in postage.

 

My first scripts to be filled out by Terry White Pharmacy cost me { $300.00 for 3 plastic containers of 5gm of cannabis flower in each container= $100.00 per container. 

 

An now the same script  will cost me $330.00for 3 container of 5gm of cannabis flower.So that is $110.00 per 5 gm container.

 

But the price of the 40ml bottle of 10% THC x 10%CBD  oil has stayed the same price.

 

I have a new appointment with the medical Cannabis Doctor soon an will ask his for a stronger % of THC  in the cannabis flower like 20% or 25% THC  an maybe a stronger  THC % in the oil as well.

 

Could anyone  out there let us know here if you are having the same kindda trouble  with  crazy prices for medical cannabis medication   from you pharmacy.

 

 Regards,Dingo-2008.

[freddie]

I just cannot understand how these prices are justified in a Legal market? The plants are so easy to grow.

 

I had a screening to see if I was eligible for legal medical, which I am, however the cost of the initial consultation, follow up consultations, and the actual product is mind boggling. 

 

I am not currently growing and am getting CBD on the black market, but am tempted to come out of retirement and start growing my own again. It's a shame as I am at the stage of life where I want to be legal.

[Dingo-2008]

Ya It sucks big time freddie.

 

Regards,Dingo-2008.

[seedsmanspain]

At very least medicinal cannabis users should be allowed to grow their own medicine!

[louise]

I just cannot understand how these prices are justified in a Legal market? The plants are so easy to grow.

 

I had a screening to see if I was eligible for legal medical, which I am, however the cost of the initial consultation, follow up consultations, and the actual product is mind boggling. 

 

I am not currently growing and am getting CBD on the black market, but am tempted to come out of retirement and start growing my own again. It's a shame as I am at the stage of life where I want to be legal.

 

I looked at going legal when my gp suggested it to me a couple of years ago, but yeah, there is no way I can afford that. I made a huge batch of oil and stocked the freezer up at the end of 2018... still using it. Granted, I only use it when I absolutely need it and can go weeks between uses. 

 

I expect to return to growing once my kosher electrician can travel here and do some work for me (dependent on borders opening and lockdowns ending). I expect my freezer stash will last until summer, so I hope the sparky can get here before then. Like you, I'm at a stage of life that I would prefer not to have to grow and run the risk of being busted. 

 

All the best freddie.

[Nonannystate]

I just cannot understand how these prices are justified in a Legal market? The plants are so easy to grow.

 

 

The cost of doing business in Australia is criminal. I'd be interested to know just how much it costs to set up a grow facility in  government charges alone. I'd be thinking multiple govt departments extorting every last cent for made up approvals, certifications, licences and insanely convoluted guidelines to adhere to.

[merl1n]

Hi crew how ya all doing this fine day.

 

Hi Merlin,  Have you had any price rises for your cannabis medication in the past few months??.

 

As you know I changed to Terry White Pharmacy  Hawthorn ,As the cost of postage from there was $15.00 cheaper than from N,S,W, used to cost me $30.00 from N,S,W, in postage.

 

My first scripts to be filled out by Terry White Pharmacy cost me { $300.00 for 3 plastic containers of 5gm of cannabis flower in each container= $100.00 per container. 

 

An now the same script  will cost me $330.00for 3 container of 5gm of cannabis flower.So that is $110.00 per 5 gm container.

 

But the price of the 40ml bottle of 10% THC x 10%CBD  oil has stayed the same price.

 

I have a new appointment with the medical Cannabis Doctor soon an will ask his for a stronger % of THC  in the cannabis flower like 20% or 25% THC  an maybe a stronger  THC % in the oil as well.

 

Could anyone  out there let us know here if you are having the same kindda trouble  with  crazy prices for medical cannabis medication   from you pharmacy.

 

 Regards,Dingo-2008.

 

Hey Dingo,

                  Apologies for not answering sooner, I've been put back on the medical roundabout again and it ain't finished yet. More tests, needles and scans are coming. Fun, fun fun. NOT. Anyway, costs...

Yea, the costs seem to vary rather a lot. I'm not on the oils anymore, I wasn't getting what I needed, when I needed it, so I just went for the flower.

BUT

I called the chemist to fill a repeat script I had remaining. Canna scripts only last 6months, then they seemingly expire. Mine had expired a week ago

So I called the canna dr. Seems the dr has left and a new dr has taken his place. So I made an appointment with the new canna dr, only there was a 3week wait. This week was my time for an appointment. (Luck I had my stash)

The surgery called and I spoke to the dr, had a good discussion and the dr suggested another strain, I thought why not? and agreed. $149/10gms with 25% THC. She said she'd get the office to forward the scripts. All good. 

There was another strain, more sativa, with 30% @ $240/10gms, but I'll try the 25% first

Then later I get a message asking me to make another appointment, so I call. Then I get told the new dr needed to apply to the TGA to get the approvals for the new script. Those approvals took around 6 weeks last time around. I suggested they simply just do a repeat script of the Bedrocan, but it's the new dr that needs to be approved as well and that could take how long............... Your guess is as good as mine........ GGrrrrrrrr, fuckity, fuckity, fuckity....

 

I was not happy. I (politely. Well, as politely as l could anyway) expressed my frustration. Informing them that as a patient this isn't the first time my 'medication' has been messed around due to the processes that have been put in place and that somebody has got to fix or at the very least improve the processes. They only know of the cock ups if you let them know, well, they now know.

 

So, please be aware, if the dr changes for any reason, all of those govt approvals need to be repeated.

So I wait...........GGrrrrrrrr, fuckity, fuckity, fuckity...

 

Merl1n 

[oldfark]

So is that $110 per 5 grams?