Medicinal cannabis

Cultivation, manufacture, importation and exportation of medicinal cannabis is tightly controlled by the Office of Drug Control (ODC), the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and local state and territories.

Medicinal cannabis for patients

Medicinal cannabis and products are only available for specific patient groups under medical supervision. Medical practitioners will only be authorised to prescribe medicinal cannabis products for conditions where there is satisfactory scientific evidence supporting such use.

For medicinal cannabis information for consumers and patients the first step is to visit the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Visit the TGA Medicinal cannabis hub - external site

Information about medicinal cannabis

The cultivation of cannabis for medicinal purposes is only permitted in Australia under the Commonwealth Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (the Act). The Act does not support the cultivation of medicinal cannabis for personal use. Cultivation and importation of cannabis for recreational use is prohibited in Australia.

Grow, produce or manufacture cannabis in Australia

You need a licence and permit to grow, produce or manufacture cannabis for medicinal or research purposes in Australia.
Importing medicinal cannabis products into Australia

Import requirements for medicinal cannabis into Australia.
Exporting medicinal cannabis from Australia

Information for people who export commercial quantities of cannabis from Australia for medicinal or research purposes.
List of approved medicinal cannabis cultivators and producers in Australia

See the list of cannabis cultivation and production licensees in Australia who have consented to the publication of their details.
List of approved manufacturers and suppliers of medicinal cannabis products

See the list of approved manufacturers and importers of medicinal cannabis products in Australia who have consented to the publication of their details.

Medicinal cannabis regulation

Compliance and Enforcement Framework 2023 - 2025

This framework will help people understand their legal obligations when dealing with controlled drugs, and the regulatory and administrative tools we use to ensure compliance.
Reporting and compliance obligations for medicinal cannabis

How to submit quarterly reports, be ready for inspections, and what can happen if you don’t comply.
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.

Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG)

The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG) provides advice to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care on issues relating to the medicinal use of cannabis, in accordance with the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 and the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. It aims to address emerging issues and developments in the field of medicinal cannabis.

Related information

Medicinal cannabis cost recovery

Information on the medicinal cannabis cost recovery model reform in our annual CRIS documents.
Prescribing unapproved drugs

Medical practitioners can request access to unregistered medicines for their patients in certain circumstances.
Travelling to or from Australia with medicines and medical devices

You can enter Australia with medicines for you or an immediate family member travelling with you under the traveller’s exemption. When leaving Australia, you must follow the advice of the country you are entering.
Licences and permits listed by type

See our licences and permits listed by type: medicinal cannabis licence and permits, import, export and pre-export notification for kava and narcotic, psychotropic and precursor substances.

News

Tasmanian Botanics Pty Ltd fined $39,600 for alleged breaches of the Narcotic Drugs Act

4 September 2025

We have given two infringement notices totalling $39,600 to Tasmanian-based company Tasmanian Botanics Pty Ltd (Tasmanian Botanics) for alleged breaches of its medicinal cannabis licence.
Cannatrek Technologies Pty Ltd fined $19,800 for alleged breaches of the Narcotic Drugs Act

23 July 2025

We have issued an infringement notice totalling $19,800 to Queensland-based company Cannatrek Technologies Pty Ltd (Cannatrek) for alleged breaches of its medicinal cannabis licence.
MCEWG, Meeting 5, 21 May 2025

23 June 2025

The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (MCEWG) met for its fifth meeting on Wednesday 21 May 2025.