As high-strength products become increasing popular, concerns are rising over prescription practices of medicinal cannabis in Australia. Kym Ascough, a dedicated and passionate patient advocate, is warning of the ethical dangers these products present. Professor Iain McGregor from the Lambert Institute at the University of Sydney shares these risks. New reports show an alarming trend among practitioners authorizing prescriptions. One N.P., for instance, handed out an eye-popping 31,000 in just twelve months.
The debate over medicinal cannabis has ratcheted up, especially considering the relative ease of access to high-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. Many patients, like Rohan Dawson, have shared their experiences with these powerful preparations, leading to questions about their appropriateness and safety. Dawson recalled his first experience with such a high-strength product, which dramatically increased his level of anxiety.
Prescription Practices Under Scrutiny
A recent series of articles exposed the alarming pattern of frequently writing prescriptions by a relatively small number of prescribers. Researcher Kym Ascough described the oddity of this occurrence. She added, “It’s really strange to see that many prescriptions with that many volumes of dispensing going through such a few number of practitioners. This keenly observed fact provokes serious questions as to whether these prescribers are truly fulfilling the professional duties they have undertaken.
Dispensed, a company that offers a “Dispensed” tablet for medicinal cannabis customers, expects practitioners to adhere to legal and professional standards. New reporting shows that for some prescribers, maximized profits have trumped the safety of patients. Ascough remarked on this issue, stating, “We would say that there is a risk that some practitioners are putting profit over patient safety.” This high potential for abuse and harm from these high-strength THCs products has led experts such as Professor McGregor to raise their concerns.
“There’s a bit of an arms race to try and get the strongest possible product out there.” – Professor Iain McGregor
Dr. Claire Noonan, who recently resigned from her position with Dispensed, raised the alarm on the computer-based company’s questionable prescribing practices. She felt pushed to give in to ask for THC prescriptions from patients on these consultation calls. Dr. Noonan noted that the docuseries patients had a distinct preference for THC preparations. On their first visits, they aggressively attempted to convince her to prescribe these products.
The Risks of High-Strength THC Products
For more than a decade, Professor McGregor and his team have primarily focused on the effects of cannabinoid compounds. He adds, “There is a concern that high-strength THC products have a high potential for abuse and associated negative health consequences.” Today, many Australians are using smokable flower forms with THC concentrations exceeding 20 percent. Concentrated forms can be as high as 98 percent THC, and McGregor cautions that these trends are capable of causing great danger to patients.
“Even the initial advocates…are now somewhat perplexed that it’s turned into a bit of a commercial monster.” – Professor Iain McGregor
The alarming frequency of prescriptions raises ethical questions about the motivations behind these practices. These investigations have led to some shocking findings. One of them wrote more than 17,000 prescriptions in only six months, an average of a new script every four minutes. Such statistics have led to increased criticism and review from legislators, medical institutions, and the general public.
Dr. Noonan said much the same about the ethics of establishing these prescriptive norms. She remarked, “I didn’t think it was conducive to ethical medical practice,” reflecting her concerns about the potential compromise of patient care standards.
Patient Experiences and Concerns
Patients such as Rohan Dawson have bravely spoken about their experiences with high-strength medicinal cannabis products. Dawson recounted his reaction after using a potent preparation: “I went and sat on the couch and thought, ‘Holy shit. Like, you know, I’m on Pluto here’. For the quarter of an hour or so that I was on it, it definitely did add to my anxiety. His testimony further highlights the unpredictability of such powerful products and raises even more doubts as to whether they’re appropriate for every patient.
Dawson criticized the necessity of such high-strength products, stating, “I don’t know why they would be wanting to have this, you know, Chernobyl-strength stuff sent out to people…it’s most probably not necessary unless you’re on death’s door.” His concerns are indicative of a larger fear among everyday consumers about the safety and appropriateness of today’s prescribing practices.
According to Professor McGregor, no matter where patients are able to access medicinal cannabis products, quality control will be key. His proposed legislation would require processes that guarantee patients talk to a human doctor before filling their prescriptions. Taken together, this might be the right type of oversight that’s needed, balancing the need for patient safety with access to these powerful substances.
“There’s the quality control. It means they have to talk to a doctor before they access the product.” – Professor Iain McGregor
