AMA submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration – proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard – interim decision on cannabidiol

In this submission, the AMA opposed the interim decision to down-schedule cannabidiol (CBD) to Schedule 3 (pharmacist only medicine). The AMA agrees with the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling and the Advisory Committee on Chemicals Scheduling that there is insufficient evidence to relax access controls on CBD. Medicines should only be down-scheduled if there is strong evidence it is safe to do so, and there is demonstrated patient benefit and safety in dispensing the medication by this method. This is not the case for CBD.