Wagga mum concerned over new ease of access to medicinal cannabis

The Therapeutic Goods Administration announced its final decision in December last year to down-schedule certain low dose cannabidiol, or CBD oil, from prescription only products to over the counter sales.

While Marianne Cooper had been met with brick walls in mid-2020 to get her 13-year-old son Deakin the treatment he needs for autism and mental health issues, she said the new ease of access to CBD Oil had gone a step too far.

"Deakin has been on anti-psychotics, antidepressants, sleep medication, ADHD medication, and at some points, all of them at once," she said.

"Even though they helped in certain areas, they created more issues in others, he wouldn't talk, and he was very limited in his interactions with children and some adults.

"On the ADHD medication he also became unhealthy due to a lack of eating as he wasn't hungry as a result of the medications, so it just wasn't a quality of life."

Finally, after arguing against doctors and psychologists in the Riverina to get the CBD oil prescribed before the down-scheduling, Ms Cooper said a local GP put her in touch with a Sydney-based doctor.

The doctor was able to prescribe the CBD oil, which would be accessible only via selected pharmacies in Wagga.

The changes to Deakin's behaviour over the past seven months have made all the difference in the world, according to Ms Cooper.

"Since he's started on the CBD oil, he's engaging, he's smiling genuinely and leaving the house sometimes, he doesn't attack any of us anymore and when he gets angry he manages it himself and will go to his room to calm down," she said.

"Even his carers and therapists have noticed a positive change, he used to essentially ignore them when they came to see him, but now he's chatting and asking questions."

Ms Cooper said it was reassuring to see Deakin noticing the improvements himself.

"It's not just about what I see, and it's definitely not about trying to make my life easier otherwise I'd go for the synthetic medications that turn him into a zombie - I want a quality of life for him, and now he wakes up ready for his medication, he enjoys being on it and always says it's helping him feel better," she said.

"The best part is when he comes up to me and gives me a hug and says 'thank you for my medicine and helping me feel better'."

While the battle to get the CBD oil is one "no one else should ever have to go through", Ms Cooper said the over-the-counter approach was not the solution.

"I'm not happy about it going over the counter," she said.

"Without the need for people to be thoroughly assessed by a doctor, I worry that the genuine medical basis of the product will be forgotten and people not needing it will start using it, they'll complain it won't work or will overuse it. I just don't want it to risk the availability for those who genuinely need it."

Ms Cooper said the more suitable approach would simply be a push for doctors to keep an open mind to the oil's benefit.

"Even if a certain doctor doesn't feel comfortable prescribing it themselves, they should still do all they can to put you in touch with someone who might," she said.

The new decision will allow TGA approved low-dose CBD containing products, up to a maximum of 150 mg/day for use in adults, to be supplied over the counter by a pharmacist without a prescription under Schedule 3 criteria.

While there are currently no TGA approved products on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods that meet the Schedule 3 criteria, Kooringal Pharmacy owner and pharmacist Justin Smith said the interest from the Wagga community had already peaked.

"We have had plenty of inquiries from people already, and that sort of started late last year even when it was first discussed as a possibility," he said.

Mr Smith said despite not needing a prescription, it would not be as simple as "picking up a packet of Panadol".

"It won't just be out on the shelves like hay fever tablets, it will be kept behind the counter and there will be a series of consultations with our pharmacists and the patient to see if it is the right product for someone," he said.

"It's also likely to cost well over $100 given other products on the market at the moment in that Schedule 3 bracket, so it won't be the type of item someone will just 'give a whirl'."

Wagga resident Darren McLean had also been advocating for the product to become more easily accessible, and said the announcement would be "life changing" for many.

The 52-year-old has endured years of chronic pain and PTSD since waking up in 2016 in agony after he severely injured his upper body in his sleep.

For Mr McLean, medicinal cannabis has been his only relief.

"This is a wonderful thing the government has done, they have finally opened their eyes," he said.

"It has the potential to change many, many lives in ways they could never dream of."

While pleased with the decision, Mr McLean did urge people to seek medical advice before jumping in head-first.

"It's always best with any illness to speak to a doctor first, don't just grab it off the shelf, it should really be prescribed or recommended," he said.

The one concern held by Mr McLean was in relation to drug testing.

"I do worry that if people are using this product legally, it still may show up in roadside drug tests and things like that which could just make someone's life so much more difficult when they're already struggling," he said.

"I think they need to figure out some kind of certificate or a specification they can add to a driver's licence to show authorities that someone is genuinely using the product legally."

Mr McLean said he was on a higher dose himself which would still not be included in the over-the-counter category, but felt reassured others could now get the help they've been looking for.

"It's changed my life, and if it can change just one other life, then that makes it worth it," he said.

"It's like throwing a rock in a pond, there will be this ripple effect all for the better."

While you're with us, did you know that you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each day at 6am from the Daily Advertiser? To make sure you're up to date with all the Wagga news, sign up for your favourite newsletters.