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Medicinal Cannabis for DVA Patients: What the New DVA Framework Means for Veterans

  • Mar 6
  • 8 min read


DVA Medicinal Cannabis: What the 2026 Framework Changes Mean for Veterans


If you are a veteran accessing medicinal cannabis through the DVA, or thinking about starting, there have been some big changes you need to know about. On 16 February 2026, the Department of Veterans' Affairs rolled out an updated Medicinal Cannabis Framework that affects how veterans access funded medicinal cannabis under the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS). The changes have sparked significant debate within the veteran community, with some welcoming the safety measures and others raising concerns about access barriers for vulnerable patients.


Key Takeaways

  • The DVA still funds medicinal cannabis for eligible veterans. The list of approved conditions has not changed.

  • Prescribers must now hold specialist registration with AHPRA, and an in-person consultation is required for first-time prescriptions.www1.racgp.org+1

  • Dried herb products are now capped at 25% THC concentration, with a maximum of 2g per day.

  • Veterans can have a maximum of 3 funded products at any one time.

  • Edibles like gummies and pastilles are no longer funded, and neither are products containing minor cannabinoids beyond THC and CBD.

  • Veterans with existing prescriptions dispensed between 16 February 2025 and 15 February 2026 have until 31 August 2026 to transition to the new rules.



What Conditions Does the DVA Still Fund Medicinal Cannabis For?


This part has not changed. The DVA will continue to consider funding medicinal cannabis on a case-by-case basis for the following conditions:

  • Chronic pain

  • Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

  • Palliative care

  • Anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness such as cancer

  • Spasticity from neurological conditions

  • Refractory paediatric epilepsy


Importantly, the DVA does not fund medicinal cannabis for mental health conditions, including PTSD. This remains a point of contention among veteran advocates. The DVA has stated that this position is consistent with guidance from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), which notes that high-quality evidence supporting the routine use of medicinal cannabis for anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions remains limited. Standard evidence-based treatments must also have been tried and failed before medicinal cannabis funding can be approved.



New Prescriber Requirements Under the Updated DVA Framework

One of the biggest changes is who can prescribe DVA-funded medicinal cannabis. Under the new framework, only medical practitioners with specialist registration with AHPRA are eligible to prescribe. This includes fellowed GPs (vocationally registered general practitioners) and relevant specialists, but it does exclude registrars and non-vocationally registered GPs.


This change aligns with AHPRA's guidance on medicinal cannabis prescribing, which was published in July 2025 in response to concerns about poor prescribing practices, over-servicing, and business models that prioritised profit over patient welfare. AHPRA's data revealed some startling figures, including eight practitioners who had each issued more than 10,000 scripts in a six-month window.


The framework also now requires that first-time prescriptions involve an in-person consultation between the veteran and the prescriber. In-person appointments are also required when changing to a new prescriber or when increasing from Tier 1 to Tier 2. The DVA has noted that travel assistance may be available for veterans who need help attending in-person appointments.



THC Limits, Dosage Caps, and Product Restrictions

The updated framework introduces specific limits on what the DVA will fund. For dried herb medicinal cannabis (used with a dry herb vaporiser), the THC concentration is now capped at 25% or less, and the total daily amount across all dried herb products cannot exceed 2g per day. Dried herb must also be vaporised using a TGA-approved medical device.


For oral products, only capsules and liquid preparations are funded. Edibles such as pastilles and gummies are no longer covered, partly to reduce the risk of accidental harm to children and animals. The DVA will also only fund products where cannabinoids CBD and/or THC are the labelled active ingredients. Products with other minor cannabinoids listed as active ingredients are not funded.



Understanding the Two-Tier System

The DVA uses a tiered system for approving medicinal cannabis prescriptions:

  • Tier 1: The veteran is receiving a maximum of 2 products at any one time, and the total daily THC dose is 40mg or less across all products. Tier 1 applications can be approved over the phone or via an online form.

  • Tier 2: The veteran is receiving up to 3 products, or the total daily THC dose exceeds 40mg. Tier 2 applications must be submitted in writing and require a written assessment from a relevant treating non-GP specialist.


If any criteria fall into both tiers, the application is classified as Tier 2. Moving from Tier 1 to Tier 2 also triggers the in-person consultation requirement.



Grandfathering Arrangements for Existing Patients

If you are a veteran who has already had a DVA-funded medicinal cannabis prescription dispensed between 16 February 2025 and 15 February 2026, you are covered by the grandfathering arrangements. This means you have until 31 August 2026 to work with your prescriber to adjust your prescriptions so they meet the updated criteria.


From 1 September 2026, all veterans must comply with the new framework regardless of their previous arrangements. If your current prescriber does not hold specialist registration with AHPRA, you will need to find a new doctor who meets these requirements during the transition period.


Veterans who hold a prescription but have not had a dispensing event in the 12 months before 16 February 2026 are not covered by the grandfathering period and will need to comply with the new rules immediately.



Why Did the DVA Make These Changes?

The DVA has framed the changes as necessary to protect veteran health and align with the latest evidence and safety guidance. Several factors appear to have driven the update:


  • The RANZCP welcomed the changes, noting concerns about predatory practices by some telehealth cannabis companies that had been offering financial incentives to military advocates in exchange for veteran referrals. An ABC 7.30 investigation in February 2026 revealed recordings of a telehealth cannabis company allegedly offering a 5% ongoing commission to advocates for each veteran signed up to a medicinal cannabis.

  • The RSL also supported the framework, citing reports that some vulnerable veterans had been targeted by telehealth companies using social media and text message marketing and were then mailed high-potency products after only a short online or telephone consultation.


AHPRA's July 2025 guidance had already flagged concerns about practitioners working in single-purpose dispensing models where there was an inherent conflict of interest. The new DVA framework builds on this broader regulatory direction.



Concerns and Criticism from the Veteran Community


Not everyone is on board with the changes. Clinicians at the recent UIC Conference warned that the framework changes were already causing distress among veterans, with some patients reportedly "in tears" over the potential loss of access to their current treatments. Concerns about suicide risk and a potential healthcare crisis were raised during panel discussions.


Apex Health, a specialist clinic that helps thousands of veteran patients access medicinal cannabis, lodged a formal complaint with the DVA calling for the framework to be suspended. The clinic argued the changes create structural barriers for veterans managing chronic pain and service-related injuries, and that the rules were introduced without sufficient consultation with large treatment providers.


A key concern is access for veterans in rural and regional areas. The mandatory in-person consultation requirement effectively removes the telehealth-based prescribing model that had made medicinal cannabis accessible for veterans who cannot easily travel. This is complicated further by the fact that veterans taking THC-containing medication face legal issues around driving, as the presence of any THC in their system can constitute a criminal offence regardless of whether it is prescribed. For veterans with mobility issues, PTSD, or agoraphobia, this creates a genuine barrier. If you have questions about medicinal cannabis and driving, it is worth discussing this with your prescriber.


Some critics have also pointed out what they see as a contradiction in government messaging. Just one week before the framework was introduced, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs announced $739.2 million for veteran treatment, including medicinal cannabis. The petition on Change.org called "Plants Not Pills" argues that the framework makes the same treatment "functionally inaccessible".



What About the Evidence for Medicinal Cannabis and Chronic Pain?


The evidence base for medicinal cannabis in chronic pain is still evolving, and it is important to be upfront about what the research does and does not show. An updated Cochrane review published in January 2026 concluded there is still no clear evidence that cannabis-based medicinal products provide significant pain relief for chronic neuropathic pain at the 50% or greater threshold. However, a 2025 review noted that the strongest data for cannabinoids come from neuropathic pain, where they reduced pain scores by 6 to 9 points on a 0 to 100 scale. A separate scoping review of chronic musculoskeletal pain found that CBD may reduce chronic pain by 42% to 66%, and that using both THC and CBD together may yield better results than either compound alone.


This is worth noting because the entourage effect, where cannabinoids and terpenes work together, may play a meaningful role in how patients experience relief. High THC percentage alone is not everything, and a well-rounded product profile, including terpenes like myrcene and caryophyllene, may matter just as much for some patients.


Many veterans report real-world improvements in their pain, sleep, and quality of life with medicinal cannabis, particularly after other treatments like opioids and NSAIDs have failed. However, the gap between clinical trial evidence and patient-reported outcomes remains something the medical community is actively working to close.



What Should DVA Patients Do Now?

If you are a veteran currently accessing medicinal cannabis through the DVA, the most important step is to talk to your prescriber as soon as possible. If your prescriber does not hold specialist AHPRA registration, you will need to find one who does before 31 August 2026. Your prescriber can help you understand whether your current products and doses fall within the new limits, and what adjustments might be needed.


Please note: we are a 100% online clinic, so we will not be able to assist with DVA prescriptions under the current rules.


If you are a veteran who has been thinking about starting medicinal cannabis treatment, the new rules apply to you immediately. You will need to find a doctor with specialist AHPRA registration, attend an in-person consultation, and ensure that any products prescribed fall within the updated funding criteria.


For veterans concerned about affordability, remember that DVA-funded prescriptions are available at the concessional co-payment rate of $7.70 per script under the RPBS. The DVA will also consider reimbursement for TGA-approved vaporisers purchased through a pharmacy within three months of a dispensed RPBS prescription.





References

  1. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Updated medicinal cannabis framework supports safe and effective prescribing practices. DVA, 15 February 2026. https://www.dva.gov.au/providers/provider-news/updated-medicinal-cannabis-framework-supports-safe-and-effective-prescribing-practices

  2. Cannabiz. Veteran clinic lodges formal complaint over DVA medicinal cannabis framework. 24 February 2026. https://www.cannabiz.com.au/veteran-clinic-lodges-formal-complaint-over-dva-medicinal-cannabis-framework/

  3. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Medicinal cannabis information for providers. DVA, 15 February 2026. https://www.dva.gov.au/providers/information-for-gps-other-primary-care-providers/medicines/medicinal-cannabis-information-for-providers

  4. Reddit (r/MedicalCannabisOz). DVA Access and Prescription Changes. 15 February 2026.

  5. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Cannabis-based medicines for chronic neuropathic pain in adults (updated review). January 2026.

  6. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Updated Medicinal Cannabis Framework provides guidance on prescribing practices. DVA, 15 February 2026. https://www.dva.gov.au/news/latest-stories/updated-medicinal-cannabis-framework-provides-guidance-on-prescribing-practices

  7. RACGP (newsGP). DVA brings in dosage cap for medicinal cannabis. 22 February 2026. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/dva-brings-in-dosage-cap-for-medicinal-cannabis

  8. Cannabiz. No subsidised medical cannabis for mental health conditions until there is clinical evidence, DVA reiterates. 12 February 2025.

  9. RSL Australia. RSL Welcomes DVA Action on Medicinal Cannabis (media release). 24 February 2026. https://www.rslaustralia.org/latest-news/rsl-welcomes-dva-action-on-medicinal-cannabis

  10. RANZCP. RANZCP welcomes DVA's stronger safeguards on medicinal cannabis prescribing for veterans. 27 February 2026.

  11. Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Guidance on medicinal cannabis prescribing targets patient safety. 9 July 2025. https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-07-09-Medicinal-cannabis-guidance.aspx

  12. ABC News / 7.30. Medicinal cannabis company offered 'kickbacks' to military advocates. 24 February 2026. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-24/medicinal-cannabis-company-offered-kickback-for-veteran-referral/106354294

  13. Department of Veterans' Affairs. Medicinal cannabis. DVA, 15 February 2026. https://www.dva.gov.au/what-we-help-with/health-support/help-to-cover-healthcare-costs/manage-medicine-and-keep-costs-down/medicinal-cannabis

  14. Chang-Douglass S, et al. Cannabinoids in Chronic Pain: Clinical Outcomes, Adverse Effects. PMC, September 2025.

  15. Collyer F, et al. The Evidence for Medical Cannabis in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Management. Surgical Collegian, December 2025.

  16. O'Neil ME, et al. Benefits and Harms of Cannabis in Chronic Pain or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review. VA Evidence-based Synthesis Program, August 2017.

  17. Change.org. Plants Not Pills: Reverse DVA's Attack on Veterans' Access to Medicinal Cannabis. February 2026.

  18. Medical Republic. DVA says no to telehealth cannabis prescribers. 16 February 2026.

  19. Medical Republic. Veteran's health spend details mostly expected, but rebates not addressed. 8 February 2026. https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/veterans-health-spend-details-mostly-expected-but-rebates-not-addressed/123089

  20. Cannabiz. Veterans 'in tears' as panel warns DVA cannabis changes risks 'crisis'. February 2026. https://www.cannabiz.com.au/veterans-in-tears-as-panel-warns-dva-cannabis-changes-risks-crisis/

 
 
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