Australia is one of the largest legal medical cannabis markets on the planet right now, but patients still experience issues when trying to safely access medical cannabis products and therapies.

A team of researchers based in Australia and affiliated with the University of Sydney recently conducted a qualitative interview study asking patients about their long-term experiences seeking medical cannabis prescriptions and using medical cannabis oil products. The study’s findings were published in the Australian Journal of Primary Health.

The study involved fifteen participants, aged 33-78, who had also participated in the ‘Quality-of-Life Evaluation Study.’ The patients were previously prescribed and administered medical cannabis (MC) oil orally, and had used the oil for over one year to treat chronic pain, insomnia, muscle spasticity, anxiety, or depression.

“Analysis identified four overarching themes: ‘This isn’t living’; ‘I was looking for a solution’; ‘It wasn’t to get high’; and ‘Everything’s much better’, and eight subthemes covering concerns, barriers, patient autonomy and benefits.” the researchers wrote.

“Participants commonly used MC to reduce or replace conventional medications taken for their conditions, and viewed MC as a low-risk ‘natural’ alternative. Barriers to accessing MC included difficulties obtaining prescriptions and the cost of MC products. Participants reported symptom improvements that flowed on to benefit relationships, productivity and mental health over the long term. Although initially concerned about side-effects, participants self-managed these effectively, with perceived benefits outweighing side-effects. Participants described roadside drug testing as an ongoing concern.” the researchers found.

“This group of patients prescribed orally administered MC oil in Australia reported many benefits of MC, but faced ongoing barriers to MC access. Improved awareness and education, simplified prescribing processes, and less prohibitive driving laws could lead to wider acceptance of MC as a therapeutic option and improved patient-centred care.” the researchers concluded.

Fears of being charged with ‘driving under the influence’ are common in all jurisdictions where medical cannabis is legal. In Australia specifically, the topic has been especially prominent in recent years in society and politics. Cannabinoids can stay in a patient’s system for weeks or even months after medical cannabis use, putting patients at risk of being falsely accused of driving under the influence of cannabis.

According to cannabis data company Cannamonitor, Australia’s medical cannabis industry imported a record amount of products in 2025, reaching a total of over 81 tonnes. Lawmakers and regulators are working to restrict Australia’s medical cannabis policies, and if they succeed in doing so, that would obviously create additional barriers for the nation’s medical cannabis patients.