The pharmacist who founded Australia’s first subscription-based medicinal cannabis platform, Dispensed, has been banned from supplying cannabis and a further two doctors have been suspended as authorities launch an investigation into a man's death, and alleged inappropriate prescribing to another patient.
The New South Wales coroner is preparing a report into the death of the 41-year-old, who had a pre-existing mental health condition exacerbated by medicinal cannabis prescribed through Dispensed.
Despite his history of hallucinations and psychosis, the deceased received continued cannabis deliveries after his death was reported to the platform by his family.
According to Professor Brett Emmerson, chair of the Queensland branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, it is inappropriate to prescribe medicinal cannabis to any patient with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia.
Emmerson said, "One of the most common causes, over many years as a psychiatrist, of people (with schizophrenia) relapsing is the fact that they get their hands on THC.”
The father of the deceased man expressed dismay over the ease with which cannabis was prescribed, circumventing his son’s regular medical providers.
In a separate incident, as revealed by an ABC investigation, a 31-year old patient diagnosed with schizophrenia received cannabis despite warnings from his mother. This led to a severe deterioration in mental health, culminating in hospitalisation under involuntary treatment.
Concerns have been raised over the regulatory oversight of telehealth platforms like Dispensed, where prescriptions are issued remotely without adequate checks.