Patients seeking medical cannabis treatment in Australia face a growing number of clinic options, each with distinct service models and patient experiences. Online forums have become a key resource for prospective patients evaluating providers, with thousands of testimonials offering unfiltered accounts of treatment access, product quality, and customer service.
Three clinics emerge repeatedly in these discussions: Dispensed, Candor, and MedReleaf Australia. Each operates under different business structures, with Dispensed offering a subscription model without doctor fees, Candor providing full online consultations with multiple pharmacy options, and MedReleaf focusing on supporting prescribers rather than direct patient services.
Patient forums across Reddit and review platforms reveal distinct patterns in how these clinics deliver care. Some report approval within 24 hours and delivery in under a week, while others describe month-long waits and inventory issues. The variation suggests that clinic selection affects not just cost, but treatment continuity.
Service Model Differences Shape Patient Access
Dispensed operates with a consultant-led model where patients speak with healthcare professionals rather than doctors for initial assessments. One Reddit user described submitting an online form and initially being deemed unsuitable, only to have the decision reversed after requesting to speak directly with a prescribing doctor.
“I was awaiting a response from the doc as to my eligibility for a day or so. I eventually got in contact via chat and was told my application had been rejected,” the patient wrote. After explaining their situation to a doctor based on TGA guidelines, they received CBD and flower prescriptions. The patient noted that “everyone I’ve dealt with there has been very friendly and helpful, despite the initial confusion.”
Candor’s telehealth platform connects patients directly with Australian GPs for fully online consultations. However, patient reviews on Trustpilot paint a mixed picture of service consistency. One patient reported switching from another provider “after reading some good reviews on reddit” but finding the experience problematic, with inventory management issues and communication gaps.
Stock availability emerged as a recurring complaint. “Once I placed an order, I heard nothing until I followed up on the 4th day, and when I followed up they said the product was out of stock,” the patient wrote. Another instance involved confusion over remaining script counts, with the system showing one script available but staff claiming otherwise.
MedReleaf Australia takes a different approach entirely, functioning as a supplier and educator for healthcare professionals rather than operating as a patient-facing clinic. The company provides clinical support to prescribers and manufactures products locally under an Office of Drug Control license. This B2B model means patients access MedReleaf products through their existing doctors rather than enrolling with a specific clinic.
Cost Structures and Hidden Fees
Pricing transparency varies across providers, with upfront costs telling only part of the story. Dispensed charges no doctor consultation fees, a feature multiple patients identified as a key advantage. One early reviewer noted: “Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a cheaper option because yes they charge NO DOC fees.”
The clinic’s flowers cost $150 per 10g tub, higher than some competitors. However, patients calculated that when factoring in zero consultation fees, no shipping charges, and elimination of ongoing follow-up costs, the total outlay often proves competitive. “Some may note that the flower is more expensive than some other providers however there is no shipping fees and when one adds up the initial consult fees, follow up consults and new script consult fees for some other providers I reckon the price differential may be interesting,” one patient analyzed.
Dispensed’s subscription system automatically renews prescriptions monthly unless patients contact support to adjust timing. While this lacks flexibility, patients noted they could communicate before each renewal to modify orders based on remaining medicine.
Candor’s fee structure includes a $59 consultation charge, though wait times between payment and actual doctor appointments have drawn criticism. One patient paid for a consultation in July but faced extended delays getting an appointment slot. “Paid for my 2nd consultation on the 11th of July. Finally received a appointment time with a doctor yesterday. Go on candor app today my appointment is no longer,” they wrote on Trustpilot.
Multiple reviews mention additional charges for script releases and complications when products go out of stock mid-treatment. “End up spending twice as much money as you should need to with them, because scripts are constantly out of stock or discontinued and you’re left with no choice but to sacrifice all repeats for a single sub,” one patient reported.
Product Quality and Selection Trade-offs
Dispensed offers a limited range of proprietary strains, including DAYLIGHT (a Sharksbreath X Skunk sativa) and MOONRISE (BubbaKush X KandyKush indica). Patients cannot choose products from other manufacturers, which some view as restrictive. The trade-off comes through product consistency and quality control.
A detailed Reddit review described the DAYLIGHT strain as “very fresh earthy, pine, and citrusy. It smokes nice, and I noticed a real improvement in concentration, anxiety, stress lowered, nice body feel.” The reviewer, usually prescribed LPG Desert Flame, found it “quite heavy sometimes, so this as a nice change.”
“If you want some overall very nice flowers and don’t want to pay doctors fees then they are a fantastic option. I will be spreading the word hard on these guys, I am very impressed,” the patient wrote.
Another user posted about their first months with Dispensed, praising product quality: “dispensed specific flowers can only be ordered by dispensed patients. whilst it does cop digs from some people i havent had one complaint yet and am just great full to finally have access to medical grade flower. infact of late dispensed has actually impressed me with the quality of flower coming in.”
Candor provides access to 35 different pharmacies and a broader product selection. One patient who switched from another clinic specifically cited “many options of 35 chemists, cheaper postage, less processing fees more stock availability and medicinal brand choices” as reasons for the move.
The patient praised their follow-up doctor, Dr. James Slade, as “absolutely incredible. He spent 20 minutes on the phone explaining every detail of the natural treatments how every compound works full scientific break downs of how it works in the body.”
However, inventory management issues at various pharmacies created treatment continuity problems. Several patients reported waiting days or weeks only to learn their prescribed products were unavailable, requiring additional consultations or script changes at added cost.
Response Times and Communication Quality
Speed to approval and medication delivery varies considerably. Dispensed’s fastest cases saw patients approved within 24 hours with product arriving within two business days of payment. “I was approved in 24 hrs with 5 repeats, and the product arrived within 2 business days of payment,” one early reviewer reported.
Candor’s communication received the most criticism across review platforms. Wait times between consultation payment and actual doctor appointments stretched from two to four weeks, with some patients reporting no updates during this period. “I paid for my medical cannabis checkup through Candor almost a month ago, and I’ve yet to receive any update on when I’ll actually speak to a doctor,” one patient wrote.
When issues arose, getting responses from support teams proved difficult. “I am a current candor customer and can confirm its bad i am currently waiting for a reply over my $400 order that the chemist have no stock of its been a week no reply from the nurse or support i have no medication left,” another patient reported.
Some patients did report positive experiences with specific Candor doctors. Dr. James Slade received multiple mentions for thorough explanations and patient care, suggesting quality varies by which physician handles the case.
MedReleaf’s support structure focuses on prescriber education rather than patient interaction. The company operates a clinical support line (1300 096 611) for doctors and pharmacists, with free education portals and training resources. Patients access these products through their regular doctors, meaning communication quality depends entirely on their existing provider relationships.
Regulatory Compliance and Prescription Management
All three operate within TGA regulations but handle prescribing authority differently. Dispensed employs prescribing doctors, eliminating the need for separate TGA submissions. “One important thing that some may not realise is they are prescribing doctors so no TGA submission is needed,” a patient explained.
Candor’s system experienced complications during its merger with CDA clinics, with some patients reporting medical history transfer issues. “Previously was going through CDA had been on my medical for years then when they’ve swapped to merge with crandor they’ve messed up my medical history that surely CDA would of had on file about everything so they won’t take me on in the clinic,” one patient wrote.
The clinic’s four-script limit with 10-day intervals between orders created supply problems when multiple scripts became unavailable simultaneously. “The 4 script limit and 10 day interval, doesn’t allow for any safety net if, for example, 2 or more of your scripts are unable to be filled for whatever reason and the pharmacy is unable to get in touch with the prescriber,” a patient observed.
MedReleaf provides reporting tools to help prescribers meet TGA requirements for authorized prescriber reporting. The company’s 6-monthly TGA reporting system automates patient number tracking, reducing administrative burden for doctors who prescribe their products.
Patient Priorities and Clinic Alignment
Forum discussions reveal that different patient priorities match different clinic models. Cost-conscious patients seeking straightforward access gravitate toward Dispensed’s no-fee structure and streamlined process, accepting limited product selection in exchange for predictable costs and fast service.
Patients wanting broader product access and willing to navigate more complex systems often choose Candor, particularly if they value having multiple pharmacy options. Those with established doctor relationships who want to add medical cannabis to existing treatment plans work through MedReleaf products without changing providers.
The most satisfied patients in each system appear to be those whose expectations matched the clinic’s actual service model. Dispensed patients who understood the subscription model and limited product range reported positive experiences. Candor patients who received timely responses and had access to their preferred products praised the service. Patients whose doctors used MedReleaf products benefited from the company’s prescriber support infrastructure.
Dissatisfaction typically arose when expectations misaligned with reality: Dispensed patients frustrated by limited strain selection, Candor patients caught in inventory issues or communication delays, or patients assuming MedReleaf operated as a direct clinic rather than a supplier.
The Australian medical cannabis market continues to mature, with patient reviews suggesting that no single clinic dominates across all criteria. Treatment success depends on matching individual priorities—whether cost, product selection, or service speed—with the clinic model most likely to deliver on those specific needs.
