United demand for changes to medicinal cannabis rules
02 Oct 2025
Peak health organisations in New South Wales are urging the state government to improve the regulation of medicinal cannabis prescribing and dispensing, amid concerns about rapid growth in use and patient safety.
The NSW branches of the RACGP, Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, and Australian Medical Association have written to Health Minister Ryan Park calling for reforms. The number of Australians using medicinal cannabis has surged from 18,000 in 2019 to over one million by January 2024.
The health bodies raised concerns about poor regulatory oversight, particularly with the rise of vertically integrated cannabis clinics and telehealth-only services. They noted potential conflicts of interest when prescribers send prescriptions to dispensaries owned by the same company, and warned that some clinics focus more on profit than quality patient care. Aggressive marketing of Schedule 8 cannabis products was also highlighted as a major issue.
Earlier this year, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) issued guidance warning prescribers to exercise the same care with medicinal cannabis as with other drugs of dependence. Their data revealed several practitioners issuing thousands of prescriptions in short periods, and one pharmacist reportedly dispensing nearly one million cannabis products in a year.
RACGP NSW&ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman said while medicinal cannabis may benefit some patients, it must be prescribed and dispensed safely, ideally through the patient’s regular GP and pharmacy.
“Profit-driven models such as vertically integrated clinics risk fragmenting patient care. Patient safety must come ahead of profits,” Dr Hoffman said.
NSW Pharmacy Guild President Mario Barone and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia NSW President Luke Kelly also emphasised the importance of clinical oversight, continuity of care, and regulatory safeguards to prevent unsafe prescribing.
A NSW Health spokesperson said the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates access to unregistered medicinal cannabis products and is reviewing their safety and oversight. NSW Health also monitors Schedule 8 prescribing and can take action against practitioners who breach state regulations.
Source: RACGP News / NSW Health / AHPRA
