What you need to know about CBD Oil
Dr Hamish Black answers some of your biggest questions about CBD oil.
CBD oil, and other medicinal cannabis products, have received a lot of attention in the past few years, in Australia and overseas. So, what’s the deal with medicinal cannabis in Australia, and why is there so much talk around CBD oil in particular? To give us a better understanding of CBD, we spoke with Dr Hamish Black – GP and nib group Medical Advisor – to help answer some of the biggest questions you might have about CBD oil.
What is CBD oil?
Let’s look at where CBD oil comes from. Medicinal cannabis products are derived from the cannabis plant and contain cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as the main active ingredients. Marijuana comes from the same plant, but it isn’t used for medicinal purposes in Australia.
Unlike THC, which is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis and is what produces the ‘high’ that cannabis is often associated with, CBD isn’t psychoactive. This means you don’t feel a ‘high’ sensation from taking it. The CBD found in products like CBD oil has often been derived from the hemp plant or manufactured in a lab.
How does CBD oil work?
“Research about CBD oil is ongoing, and although more studies are necessary, initial results indicate that it relieves pain by affecting pain receptors in the brain and spine, and by reducing inflammation,” says Hamish.
Research from the University of Sydney suggests that Australians have unmet needs around their mental health and that medicinal cannabis is now frequently being trialed as an alternative to conventional therapies. However, Hamish says there's still not enough evidence to confirm the effectiveness of CBD oil for treating mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
Possible health benefits of CBD oil
“It’s commonly believed that studies have conclusively shown CBD oil will do more good than harm for multiple conditions including chronic pain, but that isn’t true,” says Hamish. “While it is currently prescribed for a range of conditions, further research is needed to know what, if any, benefits there are.” While the evidence is still unclear, CBD oil is sometimes used to manage:
Arthritis pain
Nerve pain
Neck and lower back pain
Anxiety
Insomnia
Symptoms related to cancer treatment, such as nausea and reduced appetite
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Epilepsy
Palliative care
Possible side effects of CBD oil
"One of the most common myths about CBD oil is that because it’s derived from a plant it can’t do any harm,” says Hamish. However, CBD can have a range of impacts on the body, from impacting how other medications work, to increasing blood thinning, as well as impacting liver enzymes, if the dosage is high enough.
Other side effects include:
Difficulty concentrating and thinking
Dizziness
Balance disturbance
Memory problems
Drowsiness
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Decreased or increased appetite
Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Patients shouldn’t drive or operate heavy machinery while they’re taking CBD oil. It also isn’t recommended for women who are pregnant, people with psychotic or mood disorders and people with unstable cardiovascular disease. If you're using CBD oil, especially if your doctor didn't prescribe it, Hamish advises telling your doctor when they prescribe new medication.
Is CBD oil legal in Australia?
Medicinal cannabis was legalised in Australia in 2016, but that doesn’t mean you can drop by your local pharmacy and pick up a prescription. Most medicinal cannabis products are ‘unapproved’ meaning they don’t appear on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). In practice, this means that your doctor will need to access special pathways to get medicinal cannabis products like CBD oil for patients.
As of 2021, the Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) changed CBD oil from Schedule 4 (prescription only) to Schedule 3, which means you can access low-dose CBD products (max.150 mg daily dose) over the counter at your local pharmacy.
However, there are currently no approved products on the ARTG registry that meet the Schedule 3 criteria, and the approval process can take upwards of two years.
For now, Australians who wish to obtain a CBD product will need to talk to their doctor. “If your doctor believes you could benefit from CBD oil, they can apply to the TGA for approval to write you a script,” Hamish advises.
For more information on the use of CBD oil and other medicinal cannabis products in Australia, visit the government websites:
You can also find information about the specific laws in your state by visiting:
The information throughout this article serves as broad information and should not replace any advice you have been provided to you by your medical practitioner.
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In partnership with
Dr Hamish Black
Dr Hamish Black has been a medical practitioner for more than 25 years. In addition to his role as nib group medical advisor, he still spends two days a week practising as a GP. He has spent many years working in emergency departments and in rural Australia, including a stint with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Hamish also loves karaoke and dancing (though not that well at either, he says!), with Play that Funky Music by Wild Cherry being his karaoke favourite.