News & media

The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG) met for its fourth meeting in Canberra on Tuesday 25 February 2025

From 1 March 2025, new substances included under Schedule 4 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 will require a licence and permit for import and/or export issued by us.

The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG) met for its third meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday 16 October 2024.

We will be progressively adding more digital forms and enhanced functionality, enabling you to complete a range of tasks online.

The HBS Portal is open for new medicinal cannabis and narcotic drug manufacture licence applications to the Office of Drug Control.

The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG) met for its second meeting in Canberra on Wednesday 17 July 2024

The 2023 data on cannabis-related activities regulated by the Office of Drug Control is now available.

The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG) met for its first meeting in Melbourne on Wednesday 17 April 2024

We are transitioning to an online system for submitting new licence applications from mid-2024. The changes will affect how you will submit a new licence application.

This year we will be establishing an online portal, making it easier and more convenient for you to do business with us.

Find out about new substances requiring a licence and permit for import and/or export issued by us, the Office of Drug Control (ODC), From 21 February 2024.

New import controls have been introduced for vaping goods under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956.

The Kava pilot ends on 31 December 2023. The Australian Government will make a decision on future imports of kava. Until then, importers can continue to apply for import permission for kava. Read the final report.

From 13 December 2023 there are new substances requiring a licence and permit for import and export.

Find out information about the quantity of cannabis imported, exported, produced, and held in stock.

The changes will help address the significant public health issues caused by vaping in Australia, while keeping legitimate patient access to therapeutic vapes.

We have issued six infringement notices totalling $99,000 to Queensland-based company Cannatrek Technologies Pty Ltd (Cannatrek) for alleged breaches of its medicinal cannabis licence.

The Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis, Communiqué #21.

The Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis, Communiqué #22.

We are updating the licence and permit variation forms for the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.

Read the latest information on the regulation of MDMA and psilocybine.

Find out about the new fees and charges for the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme starting in August 2023.

The ODC has issued an infringement notice to the New South Wales-based company ABC CAN Pty Ltd for alleged security failures at its cannabis cultivation site.

Read about our approach to the regulated narcotic industry, and legal obligations for people with ODC licences.

The Australian Advisory Council on the Medicinal Use of Cannabis, Communiqué #20.