In 2016, the federal government of Australia legalised medicinal cannabis for specific medical conditions, disorders, and illnesses. However, there remains an ongoing struggle to expand the list to include more patients.
Currently, healthcare professionals can prescribe medicinal cannabis to treat conditions such as chronic non-cancer pain, anxiety, cancer-related symptoms, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. Over 100 different cannabis products are available for prescription in Australia, with many being in the form of oils or capsules containing the drug, according to NPS.
To be permitted to sell medicinal cannabis in Australia, suppliers must first obtain approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Upon clearing this significant hurdle, the Commonwealth and state governments collaborate on the national licensing scheme to integrate the product into the system.
