ALERT

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Following enquiries from AMCA and SCCAC, the Office of Medicinal Cannabis (OMC), Health VIC, has confirmed that the suspension of Victorian S8 permit requirements via Public Health Emergency Order #6 expired on 27 March 2021. 

This was previously detailed on the health department’s Medicines and Poisons page, but was, unfortunately, prematurely deleted. 

As a result of the expiry, from 28 March all registered Victorian medical practitioners and nurse practitioners will now be required to apply for a Schedule 8 permit when prescribing a Schedule 8 medicinal cannabis product (i.e. a product containing >2% THC), noting existing exemptions for permit requirements when prescribing to some patients.  

The Victorian Schedule 8 permit system is currently under review and the department has recently surveyed prescribers (via KPMG) to gain an understanding of their views towards the Schedule 8 permit system. This survey closed on 14 March 2021 and will assist in determining whether there is a role for the S8 Permit System moving forward. The Office of Medicinal Cannabis (Health VIC) has advised us that it is, unfortunately, not able to advise on the timeframe for when any decision will be made regarding S8 permits.  The OMC will be updating information on its webpage accordingly. SCCAC will keep its members informed of further developments.