CBD oil without a prescription in Australia
Since February 2021, certain low-dose CBD products have been available from pharmacists in Australia without a prescription. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rescheduled cannabidiol to Schedule 3 under specific conditions, which means a pharmacist can supply qualifying CBD products directly to adults over 18. Before that change, every CBD product in Australia required a doctor’s prescription regardless of the dose or formulation.
Schedule 3 is the “pharmacist only” category. You don’t need a script, but you can’t just grab it off a shelf either. The pharmacist has to assess whether the product is appropriate for you, record the supply, and provide guidance on use. It’s a controlled process — not a casual over-the-counter purchase like paracetamol.
This rescheduling didn’t make all CBD products prescription-free. It opened a narrow pathway for a specific type of CBD product that meets strict criteria. Everything else — higher concentrations, non-oral formulations, products with more than trace THC — remains Schedule 4, which means prescription only.
What qualifies as Schedule 3 CBD
The TGA set clear boundaries around which CBD products can be supplied without a prescription. The product must contain no more than 150 mg of CBD per day as the maximum recommended dose. It must be an oral formulation — not a topical, not a vape, not a capsule designed for anything other than swallowing. And it must be packaged in a container with child-resistant closure.
THC content matters too. Schedule 3 CBD must contain no more than 1% total cannabinoids other than cannabidiol. That means trace amounts of THC and other cannabinoids are permitted, but the product has to be overwhelmingly CBD. Any product exceeding those thresholds falls back into Schedule 4 territory.
The product also needs to be registered or listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). This is where it gets practical: as of early 2026, the number of Schedule 3 CBD products that have actually completed the ARTG listing process and appeared on pharmacy shelves remains limited. The regulatory pathway exists, but the commercial reality hasn’t fully caught up.
Adults 18 and over are the only eligible buyers. The pharmacist won’t supply Schedule 3 CBD to anyone under 18, and won’t supply it for use by children. These are firm rules, not guidelines.
How the pharmacist assessment works
Walking into a pharmacy for Schedule 3 CBD isn’t like picking up vitamins. The pharmacist conducts a structured assessment before deciding whether to supply the product. They’ll ask about your medical history, any current medications, and what you’re looking to use the CBD for. This isn’t optional small talk — it’s a regulatory requirement.
If the pharmacist determines the product is suitable, they’ll record the supply in the pharmacy’s dispensing system. Your name, the product details, the date — all logged. They’ll also explain how to use the product and what to be aware of. If they determine it’s not suitable, or if your situation suggests a prescription product would be more appropriate, they’ll refer you to a GP instead.
Not every pharmacy stocks Schedule 3 CBD, and not every pharmacist has completed the additional training required to supply it. Calling ahead saves time. Ask whether they carry a Schedule 3 CBD product and whether the pharmacist on duty is authorised to supply it.
Schedule 4 CBD and online purchases
Higher-concentration CBD oils — like the CBD Oil 3000mg Full Spectrum and CBD Oil 3000mg Broad Spectrum from EU Labs — sit outside the Schedule 3 criteria. Products at 60 mg/mL concentration in a 50 mL bottle contain 3000 mg total, which exceeds the Schedule 3 daily dose limit. These fall under Schedule 4 and require a prescription in Australia.
Online CBD purchases add another layer. Australian regulations apply to what’s supplied within the country, and any CBD product sold online to Australian customers still needs to comply with TGA scheduling. Buying CBD from an overseas website doesn’t sidestep the rules — customs can and does intercept unscheduled cannabinoid products at the border.
If you’re considering a CBD oil that doesn’t meet Schedule 3 criteria, the pathway is through a prescribing doctor. Some GPs are authorised prescribers for Schedule 4 CBD. Others use the TGA’s Special Access Scheme or Authorised Prescriber pathway to write scripts for specific cannabinoid products. Telehealth clinics that specialise in cannabinoid prescriptions have become a common route for Australians seeking higher-concentration options.
The distinction between Schedule 3 and Schedule 4 isn’t about quality or safety. It’s about dose, formulation and the level of professional oversight the TGA considers appropriate. Both categories are legal when accessed through the correct channel.
What to check before you buy
Whether you’re picking up a Schedule 3 product from a pharmacy or purchasing a prescribed CBD oil, the quality indicators are the same. Look for a third-party lab report — sometimes called a certificate of analysis (COA) — that confirms the cannabinoid content matches what’s on the label. EU Labs provides lab reports for every batch, each linked to a batch number printed on the bottle. No batch number, no way to verify what’s inside.
Concentration per millilitre matters more than the total milligrams splashed across the front label. A 3000 mg product in a 50 mL bottle delivers 60 mg/mL. A 3000 mg product in a 100 mL bottle delivers 30 mg/mL. Same headline number, very different concentration per drop. Always check the mg/mL figure, or calculate it yourself by dividing total milligrams by the bottle volume.
Carrier oil is worth noting too. MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) coconut oil is the most common base for CBD oils and is what EU Labs uses across its range. Some brands use hemp seed oil or olive oil as carriers — neither is inherently wrong, but MCT is the industry standard for a reason. Check the ingredients list on the bottle. A short, clear ingredients list is a good sign. A long one full of additives is worth questioning.
Consult a pharmacist or healthcare professional before purchasing any CBD product. They can help you understand which scheduling category applies to what you’re looking for, and whether a particular product is appropriate for your situation. The FAQ page on Stillroot covers common questions about EU Labs products, and the full product range is available on the shop page.
These products have not been evaluated by the TGA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You must be 18+ to purchase. Please consult a healthcare professional before use.