Medical Cannabis: Prescribing with Purpose with Dr Jason Ratcliffe
Interview with Dr. Jason Ratcliffe
Read time: 2-3 mins
Key Takeaways
Professional collaboration: The medical cannabis field needs increased peer discourse to evolve prescribing practices and improve patient outcomes.
Holistic care integration: Medical cannabis should complement a multimodal, comprehensive treatment plan including physiotherapy, psychology, and lifestyle intervention.
Chronic pain reframe: Emerging theories suggest chronic pain may be more neurological than structural, opening new therapeutic approaches, including and beyond traditional cannabinoid therapy.
High-potency THC is raising concerns: Clinical experience shows risks of dependence and psychosocial effects.
In the maturing landscape of the Australian medical cannabis industry, a shift is emerging among prescribing practitioners. Prescribing physicians who initially entered the field with broad therapeutic optimism are honing their focus, advocating for more conservative, evidence-based approaches to cannabinoid medicine.
In a recent conversation with the Insiders Extract, Jason Ratcliffe, a Melbourne-based doctor, discussed digital prescribing, the need for peer collaboration and the challenges of responsibly guiding patients through the ever-expanding maze of high-potency products, and cultural perceptions of cannabis as a “natural,” consequence-free remedy.
The Isolation Challenge in Digital Cannabis Medicine
Many Australian medical cannabis prescribers, particularly those working through telehealth platforms, face professional isolation. Dr Ratcliffe describes, “I think a lot of doctors, particularly in the digital space, work in a a silo. You get your patient feedback and you do your professional development. But you don't have that routine collegiate exchange of knowledge and experience.”
This isolation can lead to prescribing patterns where individual practitioners rely heavily on patient feedback and self-directed professional learning. While patient-centred care remains at the forefront, a lack of professional discourse may contribute to missed opportunities in refining treatment plans.
Towards a Holistic Standard of Care
Dr Ratcliffe also stressed the importance of not prescribing cannabis in isolation. Medical cannabis, as with many other medications, should be viewed as best able temporary ally, not a lifelong crutch. Educating and facilitating patients to seek complementary treatments such as physiotherapy, myotherapy, acupuncture, massage or sustainable lifestyle changes. , Consistency with such adjuvant supports may even promote better symptom control than cannabis only, often at a similar financial cost.
“If you've got a chronic back and you haven't got a physio program, you shouldn't be relying on cannabis because you're not doing the most important thing, which is looking after your body. In the end, we should be looking at chronic conditions holistically.”
He’s also wary of patients who identify too closely with their diagnosis, seeing their condition as a permanent identity. “There’s a kind of surrender that happens.” Patients, he explained, can “develop this apathy, and high-THC can exacerbate that. We need to aim higher than just reducing symptoms.”
Exploring Frontiers: Chronic Pain and Neuroplasticity
In Australia, chronic pain represents a substantial portion of TGA approvals. Given this prevalence, Dr Ratcliffe is delving into emerging theories around chronic pain, particularly in the area of the psychological and neuroplastic connections to long-term pain.
He cited the work of US practitioner Alan Gordon, who contends that much of the chronic pain presentation is not caused by ongoing tissue damage but by misinterpreted neurological signals. He is a proponent of pain reprocessing therapy, a non-pharmacological intervention with a growing body of evidence in reducing the burden of pain symptoms.
“His success in helping people reframe pain suggests that a large part of chronic pain is about signal interpretation, not physical injury,” Ratcliffe said.
This mind-body model aligns well with his overarching goal: helping patients move beyond both diagnosis and dependence, whether on opioids, cannabis, or any other medication.
Moving Beyond the "Natural and Harmless" Narrative
Stigma and misconceptions around cannabis medicine exist on both sides of the fence. While much of the work done by medical cannabis educators centres around destigmatising this medicine that was once pigeon-holed as a cause of “reefer madness”, practitioners are now facing misconceptions from the other end of the spectrum. The widespread perception of cannabis as a "natural, consequence-free" medicine has created unrealistic patient expectations and, for some, problematic use patterns.
“Cannabis is definitely included when making sure I'm doing no harm. A lot of patients and patient cohorts are collecting into little micro communities that sort of self-support their dependence, and I would say maybe inappropriate use patterns. And that's not to obviously dismiss their patient experience and I'm learning a lot from them still, but I think something that I'm becoming more and more staunch on is really trying to help people to make sure it's an asset in their lives and not a negative.”
This reality requires honest, empathetic communication with patients who may have been self-medicating for years before seeking medical supervision. These observations underscore the importance of regular monitoring, dose optimisation, tolerance breaks and clear therapeutic goals in medical cannabis treatment plans.
Conclusion: Towards Responsible Cannabis Medicine
The path forward requires continued research, professional collaboration, and regulatory refinement. Shifting from the enthusiasm of medical cannabis legalisation towards honest conversations about the limitations of medical cannabis and how we can continue to recognise and develop the positive outcomes that are possible.
By blending scientific caution with therapeutic compassion, Dr Ratcliffe's approach offers a blueprint for prescribers seeking to elevate outcomes while reducing harm.
“I think that’s responsible medicine,” he concludes.
Dr. Jason Ratcliffe is a medical doctor with diverse clinical experience spanning paediatrics, general practice, and medicinal cannabis therapy. Currently working as a part-time Paediatric Registrar at Barwon Health, specialising in eating disorders whilst maintaining roles as a Non-VR GP with Next Practice and Medical Doctor with MedReleaf Australia, Jason brings a holistic approach to patient care. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from The University of Queensland (2016-2019) and a Bachelor of Science with honours in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Marine Biology from the University of Melbourne (2005-2009). Throughout his career, Jason has consistently demonstrated a commitment to professional development through extensive locum work across various Victorian health services, telehealth provision, and specialisation in areas such as chronic pain management, palliative care, and mental health. A member of the Australian & New Zealand College of Cannabinoid Practitioners and currently undertaking Basic Physician Training with the Royal Australian College of Physicians, he is recognised for his advocacy regarding responsible practices within the medicinal cannabis industry. He has contributed to professional education through webinars and publications on medicinal cannabis prescribing.
Disclaimer: This information is shared with a global readership for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or business advice. All patient-related information has been de-identified OR fictional to protect privacy. Nothing in this article is intended to promote the use or supply of medical cannabis to members of the public.