New fight over medicinal cannabis

This week, CONTACT received a well-worded and seemingly legitimate plea for action in defiance of a new DVA ruling on medicinal cannabis.

Shortly thereafter, CONTACT received a completely opposing press release from RSL Australia, supporting DVA’s actions.

CONTACT therefore will publish both press releases in full and let the reader be the judge, with comments in the Comments section below welcomed.

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Press Release from Veteran Benefits Australia:

On 16 February 2026, DVA changed the rules for medicinal cannabis in a way that’s forcing thousands of veterans to stop treatment that’s been working. This isn’t speculation. It’s already happening. A senior RACGP leader and veteran warned that veterans “will either go off them or pay privately.” DVA knew this framework would force treatment cessation. They did it anyway. Here’s what DVA did: They created an impossible situation. Veterans now need mandatory in-person appointments – but there are only ~160 doctors in ALL of Australia who can prescribe under the new rules (down from thousands). Worse: veterans can’t legally drive while using THC medication. It’s a criminal offence – even with a prescription. Public transport isn’t an option for veterans with mobility issues, PTSD, or agoraphobia. Telehealth solved all these problems. DVA removed it. Regional areas now have ZERO accessible prescribers. Metropolitan areas have closed books and month-long waits. The evidence DVA ignored: Before implementing these changes, did DVA: ∙ Survey patients? No. ∙ Consult the clinics treating thousands of veterans? No. ∙ Collect clinical outcome data? No. ∙ Track adverse events? No. They made this decision in a complete evidence vacuum. Here’s what the data actually shows:  88.7% of veterans stopped taking opioids after starting medicinal cannabis (documented medication dispensing data from 168 patients)  67% reported pain reduction  74% improved mental health  88% would recommend it to other veterans Here’s what makes this unconscionable: Under DVA’s own eligibility rules, veterans can ONLY access medicinal cannabis AFTER standard treatments have failed. That means every veteran in the program has already tried opioids, NSAIDs, and other pain medications – and they didn’t work. Now DVA is forcing these veterans back to medications that: ∙ Cause ~150,000 hospitalizations per year ∙ Cause ~500-600 deaths per year Compared to medicinal cannabis: ∙ 77 hospitalizations over 6.5 years (~12/year) ∙ 0 deaths attributable to the medication DVA is choosing the more dangerous option. The timeline that says everything: 9 February 2026: Minister Keogh announces $739.2M for veteran treatment including medicinal cannabis, stating treatments must be “medically proven to be of benefit.” 16 February 2026: ONE WEEK LATER, DVA implements a framework making that same treatment functionally inaccessible. Same minister. Opposite outcomes. Seven days.

What happens when veterans are forced off their medication: Abrupt cessation of pain medication causes: ∙ Pain flares ∙ Medication-seeking behaviour ∙ Emergency department presentations ∙ Return to opioids ∙ The exact outcome DVA should be preventing Veterans who contributed to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide – who relived trauma to help shape better care – are now experiencing worse care as a direct result of this framework. We’re fighting back. We’ve launched a petition demanding: 1. Immediate suspension of the 16 February 2026 framework 2. Reinstatement of the telehealth-based model that was working 3. Mandatory consultation with clinics managing large veteran cohorts 4. Clinical outcome tracking – measure what money is spent on 5. Evidence-based policy – not policy made in an evidence vacuum  Sign the petition here. This isn’t just about medicinal cannabis. It’s about: ✓ Making decisions based on evidence, not bureaucracy ✓ Respecting veterans who’ve already tried and failed standard treatments ✓ Not forcing people back to medications that are more dangerous ✓ Listening to the 88% of patients who say this treatment works Plants not pills. Evidence not bureaucracy. What you can do right now: 1. Sign the petition 2. Share this email with other veterans and their families 3. Contact your local MP – Tell them DVA’s framework is forcing veterans off proven pain relief 4. Share on social media – Use #VeteransDeserveBetter #PlantsNotPills Veterans served Australia. Australia must serve veterans. The framework changed on February 16. We can change it back – but only if we make our voices heard.

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Press Release from RSL Australia:

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has welcomed the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ introduction of a new Medicinal Cannabis Framework to protect veterans from over-prescribing and other controversial practices of telehealth cannabis companies.

The changes are effective from 16 February 2026 and are in line with the safe prescribing practices introduced by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in July 2025. 

The new Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Framework also follows concerns raised by the RSL that some vulnerable veterans had been targeted by telehealth cannabis companies using social media and text message marketing then mailing unsafe, high potency products after only short online or telephone consultation.

RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley AM said since 2018, veterans had been able to access DVA funding for prescribed medicinal cannabis to manage chronic pain and a range of other conditions subject to eligibility and individual assessment.

“Concerningly, we’ve received reports of telehealth consultations with veterans resulting in regular deliveries of cannabis products well above dosages required or requested, and without any assessment or oversight by the veteran’s regular doctor. In some cases, it has been reported that excess products have been sold on the black market,” Peter Tinley said.

“A report on the ABC tonight of allegations of illegal practices concerning medical providers paying kickbacks to advocates to refer veterans for cannabis prescriptions is extremely concerning and requires further investigation by DVA.”

Under the new framework, medicinal cannabis must be prescribed by medical practitioners who have specialist registration with AHPRA, and in-person consultations are required for changes in prescriber and prescription increases. 

A daily dosage cap and THC concentration limits for dried herb products based on evidence of benefit have also been introduced.

Peter Tinley said importantly, DVA would continue to assess individual claims from veterans, with no change to eligibility or the range of conditions that can be funded, determined by research evidence demonstrating a benefit.

Capsules and liquid medicinal cannabis can be funded, but not gummies, pastilles and other oral formulations. This aims to avoid accidental harm to children and animals.

The RSL has been advised that the changes are designed to ensure veterans receive professional and considered medical advice and that they are prescribed dosages and product types that are safe and effective. A six-month transition period will give veterans who have had their prescriptions funded in the past 12 months, time to find a new doctor, if necessary, and to continue to fill their current prescriptions.

“The RSL applauds these new measures. They will provide appropriate safeguards and protect veterans from harm resulting from exploitative practices, while still giving access to DVA funding for prescribed medicinal cannabis necessary to manage pain and a range of chronic conditions,” Peter Tinley said.

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From the DVA web site…

For 2026, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) considers funding medicinal cannabis for eligible veterans based on the following criteria:

• You must have an existing DVA treatment entitlement for a specific health condition covered by DVA liability. This includes Gold and Orange Veteran Card holders with ‘all conditions’ covered, or White Veteran Card holders with an accepted condition.
• The health conditions approved for medicinal cannabis treatment include:
  • Chronic pain
  • Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
  • Palliative care indications
  • Anorexia and wasting associated with chronic illness such as cancer
  • Spasticity from neurological conditions
  • Refractory paediatric epilepsy
• You must have previously tried evidence-based standard treatments for the condition, and those treatments have not been effective or were inappropriate.
• Your treating medical practitioner must:
  • Confirm the medicinal cannabis product is clinically indicated and may benefit you (for new requests), or that treatment has been shown to be of benefit (for repeat requests).
  • Have specialist registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
  • Prescribe within DVA funding limits and consistent with Australian peak professional bodies’ clinical protocols and guidelines.
  • Obtain all relevant State, Territory, and Commonwealth approvals, including Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) authorisations.
  • Conduct an in-person consultation for the initial prescription or changes.
  • Advise you of potential contraindications.
  • Complete a mental health assessment confirming no increased risk from medicinal cannabis on suicidal ideation or mental health.
  • Confirm you have no current substance use disorder and low risk for substance use disorder, with active monitoring for cannabis use disorder and a management plan if concerns arise.
• For Tier 2 applications, a relevant treating non-GP specialist must provide a written assessment supporting the prescription.

Funding will not be approved if:

• The medicinal cannabis is prescribed for conditions not listed above, including mental health conditions.
• You do not have a Veteran Card or an accepted condition covering the treatment.
• The product concentration, dose, or formulation is outside DVA funding limits.

For detailed information, see the DVA’s Medicinal Cannabis Funding Eligibility and Approval Criteria and related provider guidelines.

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