The first commercial batches of medicinal cannabis have arrived in Australia from Canada.

Creso Pharma and Health House International have imported cannabis oil, which can be used to treat cancer and epilepsy.

The medicinal cannabis, taken to Melbourne and Perth, was the first batch approved for patients.

Scroll down for video

Medicinal cannabis derived from marijuana has arrived in Australia from Canada

Health Minister Greg Hunt said children suffering from epilepsy would benefit from medicinal cannabis

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said doctors would be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis with approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

'Children suffering from epilepsy and patients dealing with side effects caused by cancer treatment are most likely to benefit from these products,' he said in a statement.

The Turnbull government liberalised import laws in February and have granted 30 permits to import medicinal cannabis from Canada, Switzerland and The Netherlands.

More shipments are expected in May.

Permits have also been granted for medicinal cannabis to be imported from Switzerland and The Netherlands (stock image)

Comedian Wil Anderson, who suffers from osteoarthritis, has also spoken of smoking marijuana to cope with the pain.

Both sides of politics, including Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, have called for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis.

Nine licences have also been granted for the Australian supply and manufacture of medicinal cannabis.

