Is Australia prescribing too much medical cannabis?

Two major trade organizations, the’Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, are calling on the Australian government to take urgent measures to combat what they describe as a resurgence of Unregulated online prescriptions for medical cannabis all over the country.

In a joint letter addressed to Health Minister Mark Butler, the two organizations warned against «excessive and poorly regulated prescribing practices,» the long-term use of special access programs, and a surge in telehealth clinics dispensing products «outside of standard care pathways.».

Organizations are urging Canberra to strengthen the clinical governance through national safety and quality authorities, to strengthen the AHPRAs regulatory powers and to reform the Special Access Program (SAS) so that it is limited to exceptional cases under medical supervision.

«The rapid expansion of the prescribing cannabis for medical purposes, particularly through consumer-facing telehealth models »…and vertically integrated, has highlighted significant gaps in the Australian regulatory framework," the WADA said.

The teacher Trent Twomey, national president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, issued a warning: «We are witnessing the exploitation of a system, with prescriptions being issued without proper clinical oversight and patients bypassing their regular primary care physician and pharmacist.»

He added that what began as a special access channel has «now become the norm,» with thousands of products being prescribed without adequate safety, quality, or efficacy checks.

Telehealth Clinics Under Scrutiny

The rise of online clinics played a central role in this transformation. Companies such as Montu, Australia's largest medical cannabis operator, has experienced explosive growth. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a single doctor working for Montu is said to have issued 72,000 prescriptions for 10,000 patients in just two years.

This expansion has resulted in significant profits. Montu's revenue has increased from $103,000 in 2020 à $263 million in 2024.

The Minister of Health, Mark Butler, expressed alarm at what he described as «unscrupulous and potentially dangerous behavior» on the part of certain telehealth providers. «This is dangerous behavior that puts profits before patients» well-being,” he told the Sunday Morning Herald in July, warning that «telehealth business models have emerged that use aggressive and sometimes misleading advertising targeting vulnerable people.».

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has begun cracking down on illegal advertising. The regulatory agency has issued dozens of notices of violation to several companies and individuals in the cannabis industry to illegal promotion of prescription cannabis on their websites and social media platforms.

In September, the TGA imposed a total fine of $118,800 à Dispensed Pty Ltd for allegedly advertising medical marijuana in violation of the Therapeutic Products Act of 1989, particularly by using indirect terms such as « herbal medicine »and « cannabinoid-based therapies ».

A rapidly growing market still dominated by imports

Despite an increase in local prescriptions, most Australians continue to use cannabis from illicit sources, according to a new study by the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney. At the same time, the number of patients with access to cannabis-based products Prescription use has increased significantly in recent years.

At the same time, Australian imports of medical cannabis have skyrocketed. According to data from the Office of Drug Control (ODC), the total amount of cannabis imported for medical purposes The country's production rose from 45,000 kg in 2023 to 77,000 kg in 2024.

The Canada remains the largest supplier of the Australian market, representing 80 % of total imports. Shipments from Canada have increased from 35,941 kg in 2023 à 62,111 kg in 2024, a a 73 % increase compared to the previous year.

Australia's concerns reflect a international debate broader discussion on the regulations governing the prescription of medical cannabis via telehealth. The’Germany is currently considering changes aimed at prohibit access online or via telemedicine medical cannabis.