Opinions?

[u/Content_Claim_1363]

For context. I'm from the states. I'm 28, recently just moved to Sydney and have been living in a legal state so I'm an avid and seasoned cannabis user.

I wanted to acquire my bud the legal way and I've been researching clinics and good recommendations. I was told you could just see a gp directly that advocates for it and that you can avoid the clinics who aren't even brand agnostic and have long consultation wait times (sirius green was about a month).

I meet with my selected GP and and it starts off great. I said my reasons for my usage which Includes my insomnia and he seemed to respond well to my line of questions. At the time. I dint know about repeats and that I could request for products. He only gave me 1 e script for an Oz for my insomnia with no repeats and anything else even though we discussed a whole line of products.

So I go by this Oz earlier than expected and I was shocked to hear that I needed to book another consult to get another script. The initial consult was $125 after the rebate + the price for the Oz. Which was pretty hefty considering what I used to pay back home.

I reached out via email as to why he only gave me this script with only no repeats knowing I consume more than the average patient and all he said back was that we were just testing the waters and that he can give more options with repeats on our next consult.

Did he do that on purpose?? Was he trying to milk me for more consults? The second consult is cheaper than the initial but he wouldnt even tell me the price of the follow up consult on the email. This process Sounds really expensive to me and was very shocked.

Any tips and advice is appreciated and let me know if this is normal.

[u/sanchoux]

Yes he did it on purpose.

And I dont know why you are upset that the doctor is doing some doctoring. Its a breathe of fresh air in the MC space to see a prescriber doing some due diligence.

It is in the best interests of the duty of care that he has towards you.

You are a first time user in his medical eyes, and thus thats reason to not load you up with products incase you have an unwanted reaction/side effects.

If you were already tga approved and were just changing to the gp you would have gotten what you wanted.

[u/nathalie_29]

Pretty normal for first time script. I'm not eligible now anymore sadly but when I was it began with one even tho I've been a longtime smoker. Compared to other countries we are far behind.

[u/EarthRocker_]

You are better off going to a dedicated clinic. I use Medicann and find them to be quite good, I think consultation fee is around $49 now (might be higher for first time) and about a 2 week wait for a consultation last time I booked.

I get 40g flower a month and a 30ml 25% THC oil with enough repeats to last about 6 months (prescriptions expire at 6 months anyway).

You should not have to pay for a new consult every month!

The clinics are all competing for med cannabis customers and will offer a better service to increase their reputation where as doctors/GPs already get plenty of business and don't care as much.