Starting today - 1 August 2016 - new regulations come into effect that allow Doctors in New South Wales to  prescribe medical marijuana for seriously ill patients, as long as all other treatment options have been exhausted.

"This change increases the options available for doctors as it means a broader range of cannabis-based medicines can be prescribed - while we continue our evidence-based research looking further into the role medicinal cannabis can play," says NSW Premier Mike Baird.  Prior to this, cannabis was only available to patients enrolled in clinical trials in NSW.

The Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Amendment Regulation enable doctors to apply to the NSW Health board to prescribe cannabis-based products that are not currently on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.  The range of cannabis-related products are hoped to provide some hope to people for whom more mainstream treatments are not effective.  Potential uses include the treatment of arthritis, epilepsy, glaucoma, schizophrenia, Crohn's disease, and sleep disorders.

"This change increases the options available for doctors as it means a broader range of cannabis-based medicines can be prescribed - while we continue our evidence-based research looking further into the role medicinal cannabis can play," Premier Baird said.