Risk management approach to the cultivation, production and manufacture of medicinal cannabis

The 2016 amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the Act) included a requirement that a review of the operation of the Act be undertaken as soon as possible after the second anniversary of the commencement of the amendments.

The Final Report on the Review of the Act contained 26 recommendations to improve the regulatory framework for the cultivation, production and manufacture of medicinal cannabis in Australia. Minister Hunt accepted all 26 recommendations put forward in the Report, which aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on industry, promote and allow greater flexibility in the administration of the legislation to support industry innovation and development.

In response to recommendation 24 in the Report, and guided by the Commonwealth Risk Management Policy and the Australian Standard, Risk Management - Guidelines, the Office of Drug Control has developed and adopted the Risk management approach to the cultivation, production and manufacture of medicinal cannabis, a framework for the identification and management of risks associated with the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme in the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967.