Does Australia have a recreational use program?

The legality of cannabis in Australia varies across states, with adult-use generally prohibited in most provinces. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), home to the capital Canberra, stands out as an exception. Recreational marijuana was legalized in the ACT on September 25, 2019.

Does Australia have a medical program?

Yes, medical cannabis is legal in Australia. 

What are the rules for medical use?

Medicinal cannabis and products related to it are only available to certain patient groups who are supervised by doctors. Medical professionals are only allowed to recommend these products in situations where there is enough scientific evidence to support their therapeutic use.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) oversees access to most medicinal cannabis products, which are classified as unapproved medicines.

Australian patients can access medicinal cannabis treatments by obtaining a prescription through specific pathways, including the following:

• Special Access Scheme
• Authorised Prescriber
• Participation in clinical trials

What are the qualifying medical conditions for eligibility?

A patient’s recommending doctor is the one who decides if medical cannabis is best for them. Some common factors used to decide if a patient is eligible are:

• Having a chronic medical condition (symptoms persisting for over three months)
• Having tried and found other treatments ineffective
• Experiencing adverse effects from other treatments
• Expressing concerns about potential side effects of suggested treatments.

What are the medical program limits?

Doctors set limits for medical cannabis prescriptions, guided by the government’s classification system, to ensure safe access to medications while minimizing potential risks such as misuse or addiction. Dispensing limits for medical cannabis prescriptions are influenced by a scheduling system established by the  TGA. This scheduling system determines how medicines can be made available to the public.

What methods of use are permitted under the medical program?

Legally produced medicinal cannabis products are categorized as either approved or unapproved, and access to both is restricted to medical practitioners.

Currently, there are only two approved products:

1. Nabiximols (Sativex)
2. Cannabidiol (Epidyolex)

Unapproved medicinal cannabis products can be obtained by registered medical practitioners through TGA access pathways:

• Special Access Scheme (SAS)
• Authorised Prescriber Scheme (APS)

Is there home delivery for medical cannabis?

Online shops in Australia have made managing medications more convenient than ever, offering express delivery services nationwide.

Is CBD legal in Australia?

Yes, CBD is legal in Australia. On December 15, 2020, TGA made a definitive decision to reclassify specific low-dose CBD preparations from Schedule 4 (Prescription Medicine) to Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medicine). For eligibility, these medications must be packaged with less than 4500 mg of CBD (150 mg/day) and contain less than 2% of other cannabinoids in oral, oral mucosal, and sublingual formulations.

Low-dose CBD medications for vaping, smoking, and topical use will continue to be classified as Schedule 4 drugs.

Is cannabis decriminalized in Australia?

Yes, cannabis is decriminalized in Australia specifically in the Northern Territory (NT). However, the possession of a small quantity in a public place in other states can still lead to imprisonment penalties.