“Elevate your health, naturally”
Buy Weed Online in Australia is illegal
If you are trying to buy weed in Australia, you must know that it is very illegal to do so. Despite this, many Australians do buy weed online or on the black market. Not only is this illegal but it places your health at risk.
There’s been a growing interest in weed and cannabis in general thanks to the changing laws here in Australia and overseas. This has led a lot of people to search online in the hopes to find weed for sale only to be met with scams or unsafe products.
Not everyone who buys weed in this way is looking to use the drug recreationally, some order weed online or buy through illicit channels for medical purposes.
People with chronic conditions who have tried several treatments are considering marijuana as a treatment option but do not know how to purchase weed legally.
There are pathways to access medicinal cannabis with the help of a doctor or an Authorised Prescriber (AP) and soon, cannabidiol products such as CBD oil may be purchased from behind the counter of a pharmacist.
What is Weed?
Weed or marijuana is what many people call the plant cannabis, which is a part of the Cannabaceae family. It contains over 100 cannabinoids which are compounds that interact with certain receptors in our Central Nervous System and Endocannabinoid System.
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) involves cannabinoids that are naturally produced by our own bodies. These cannabinoids are present and active whether or not you use cannabis. Just as there is ongoing research into cannabis and medical marijuana in Australia, the ECS is still being studied. Currently, research suggests the ECS maintains the body’s homeostasis and is linked to regulating sleep, mood, appetite, and the reproductive system.
When it comes to medical marijuana and other forms of weed, the two main types of cannabinoids are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
THC is responsible for the most well-known effects of cannabis, such as the high or euphoria. This is due to its strong psychoactive properties. It is also the cause of many negative side effects of marijuana, such as anxiety, confusion, or hallucinations.
At present, the CBD cannabinoid is considered to have anti-psychoactive properties and may be used to reduce or manage the negative effects of THC.
Is Weed Legal in Australia?
In Australia, buying weed/cannabis products is illegal. It is also illegal to grow, possess, use or sell any form of cannabis. Some of these acts have been decriminalised in certain states of Australia, most notably in the ACT. As of 31 January 2020, for residents of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), penalties have been removed if you possess, grow and/or use a small amount of marijuana.
This decriminalisation of weed in the ACT was done in the hopes of helping those that are currently using the drug and wish to seek support without legal penalty. Smoking weed or using medicinal cannabis in public is still illegal in the ACT. If you are wondering if this includes THC vapes, yes it does. Using THC vapes, joints, or other cannabis products in public, even if you believe no one can see you, are still an illegal act.
Laws for cannabis differ from state to state, this includes the use of medicinal cannabis. All forms of medicinal cannabis, apart from Nabiximols and schedule 3 cannabidiol products, are unapproved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). As an unapproved therapeutic good, medical marijuana is not included in the Australian Register of the Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). A person cannot access any unapproved medical item without the help of an Authorised Prescriber or applying for the Special Access Scheme through a medical practitioner.
In short, for those asking, “is marijuana legal in Australia?” It is not. For some Australians, there are laws, and/or access schemes that allow a person to use or possess marijuana without penalty, but it depends on the state. Cannabis should only be accessed safely and legally.
Why are Australians Buying Weed Online?
A lot of Australians are interested in trying marijuana for recreational or medical use. The interest has especially grown with the decriminalisation of cannabis in the ACT and the news of cannabidiol now being a schedule 3 – pharmacist only medicine.
Since these announcements, many have started searching online, looking to buy weed and other cannabis products including THC vape pens and CBD oils. Even Australians that are looking for medicinal cannabis have turned online or other illicit channels because some:
- Do not know that legal cannabis access in Australia exists.
- Find cannabis from legal pathways is too expensive.
- Can’t find a willing (or think their medical practitioner isn’t willing) to prescribe medical cannabis.
- Want to remain confidential even from their regular GP or healthcare provider.
No matter what your reasoning is, if you buy weed online from these illicit sources, the product you buy may be of poor quality and likely to be unsafe. If medicinal cannabis is truly something you are considering, or if you have already been using marijuana as a medical treatment and you want to do so safely and legally, then your first step is to speak with a registered medical practitioner.
Together with the practitioner, you can decide whether medical marijuana is an appropriate treatment for your condition and then they will start the process of getting the approval from the TGA, as well as any State approvals that may apply. If the doctor is an Authorised Prescriber, they can prescribe medicinal cannabis without having to apply for a Special Access Scheme for each patient.
“Elevate your health, naturally”
Buying CBD Oil in Australia
Buying CBD oil in Australia is legal. If a cannabidiol product is approved by the TGA and registered on the ARTG, then you can buy CBD oil from a pharmacist from behind the counter. They must meet the standards of a schedule 3 cannabidiol product, which include:
- CBD makes up 98% or more of the total cannabinoid content
- Other cannabinoids present must be naturally found in cannabis
- If THC is present (the high-inducing cannabinoid) it can only take up 1% of the total cannabinoid content
- Daily dose is 150mg max. with packs containing no more than 30 days’ supply.
When medicine is classed as schedule 3, it means the product is safe to use with professional advice and that you can purchase the medicine without a prescription from a pharmacist.
What is CBD used for?
Research into the effects and uses of CBD, THC and other cannabinoids is ongoing. Both here in Australia and overseas, many studies are being undertaken to look into the medicinal use of medical marijuana or weed.
At the moment, CBD is believed to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-psychoactive properties. CBD can be consumed orally as oils or liquid capsules. In these forms, the CBD is absorbed at a slower rate compared to other forms of accessible medical cannabis in Australia. The effects can last 8 – 24 hours, which means CBD Oil may be good for reducing symptoms of more chronic medical conditions that do not require immediate relief. Many studies have shown results that suggest CBD may help with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia.
Low-dose CBD oils are available as pharmacy-only medicines, purchased from behind the counter. Supply may be limited or non-existent for a few years, but a registered schedule 3 CBD product is much safer than products that are bought from the black market and are unlikely to be contaminated.
Popular Questions About Weed & CBD Oil
Does Weed Help with Anxiety?
If weed contains the active ingredient CBD, then some research suggests that it can help with anxiety. CBD is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. It does not produce the euphoric feeling that THC does but it has been reported to have calming effects that can ease the symptoms of anxiety including insomnia or sleep disruptions.
Does Marijuana Help with Depression?
Marijuana contains cannabinoids that can interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) which plays a role in stabilising our mood. The research on cannabis and the ECS is still ongoing but in theory, cannabis may ease the symptoms of depression by restoring the levels of cannabinoids that are naturally found in our ECS to a normal level.
Other Reported Benefits of Medical Marijuana
The health benefits of medical marijuana are still being studied. Most research is being done on CBD as it does not contain the psychoactive properties of THC. Right now, those that have used or studied marijuana say that it may help with:
- Managing pain
- Sleep disorders such as insomnia or night terrors
- Relieving the symptoms of neurological and mental health conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
- Reducing inflammation
Research is still ongoing to confirm these claims and the effectiveness of cannabis as a medical treatment.
Side Effects of Medical Marijuana
Side effects can vary from person to person and will depend on many variables including the quality of the product, its composition (how much CBD, THC or other cannabinoids it contains), and the amount the person has been exposed to. Some side effects of marijuana include:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Dry mouth
- Increased appetite
- Racing heartbeat
- Memory loss
- Eye irritation
- Fever
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hallucinations
This is not a complete list. There are many more side effects that have been reported to be caused by cannabis.
Black Market Weed Can Lead to Contamination
Weed from the black market has the added danger of possibly being contaminated. As this market is unregulated, an illicit dealer may sell marijuana that has been contaminated with pesticides, residual solvents or fungi. Growing conditions and storage are also a concern. If conditions are not optimal, mould can grow. Being exposed to mould of any kind is dangerous and the spores can quickly and easily spread.
All these contaminants pose a health risk and with enough exposure could have significant long-term effects.
The Dangers You Face if You Buy Weed Online and on the Black Market
Buying cannabis and any cannabis-related product such as a THC vape pen in Australia is illegal. Especially when you buy these products from illicit sources. The black market already has the reputation of being shady and dangerous as it is hard to trust any willing participant. Any transaction of an illegal good, such as cannabis, is a black-market transaction and the participants could face legal consequences.
The black market is not regulated. There is no legal body to ensure the products are safe or to keep the sellers from providing a product that is misleading or even mislabelled. There is no way to ensure you get what you pay for on the black market or if you receive a product at all. This is especially the case with purchases from illegal marijuana sites.
For the people looking for a more affordable source of medicinal cannabis, turning to illegal online sites and black-market dealers has an extra consideration; there is no way of knowing that the marijuana from these sources has the levels of CBD or THC you are looking for to treat your condition.
Smoking Risks
Smoking marijuana is not all encouraged. This includes any legally accessed marijuana and medical marijuana. Smoking is still a health hazard that can lead to respiratory problems and increases your chances of getting certain types of cancer.
Vaping Illnesses Linked to the Black Market
Dealers on the black market have been selling THC oils or preloaded THC vapes that have been diluted with such things as Vitamin E acetate to stretch their supply of products.
This may sound familiar as it is very common in skin care products for its great moisturising properties. However, many hospitalised patients with vape-related illnesses have been found with the vitamin E acetate in their lungs linking them to black-market THC vape products. At first, the illnesses were suspected to be from vaping alone but upon further examination, health officials believe the cause of these hospitalisations may have been the vitamin E oil.
Those that have found places to buy weed online or other channels of illegally purchasing cannabis run the risk of being scammed. Many illegal sites can be found online, promising to provide weed confidentially and discretely via crypto payment, without sending a product to your door, and if they do the product may be fake. If a product does contain cannabis, it may not be safe. It could be contaminated, improperly stored, old, and/or may not have the levels of cannabis the buyer expected.
Of course, the other risk is that your product may be seized by Australia post and if you are discovered to have bought marijuana illegally you could be facing legal penalties.
Many have looked up how to buy weed online in Australia on Reddit or other similar sites. Finding suppliers in this way is more than likely to lead to a source that you cannot trust. These sites are illegal and possibly fraudulent.
There is no way to trust these sites or any black-market dealer. Purchasing from these sources comes at the risk of falling for scams, and/or being in danger. The products may be contaminated putting your health at added risk and since buying cannabis is illegal, you may face consequences from legal authorities.
“Elevate your health, naturally”