Australia’s Medicinal Cannabis Landscape – Past, Present & Future
Australia’s medicinal cannabis landscape has changed drastically in the last few years.
Less than a decade ago, access was limited, confusing, and often out of reach for the average patient. Today, over one million Australians have accessed medicinal cannabis through legal pathways — with the system supporting that access evolving just as quickly (Medical Board of Australia, 2024).
Unfortunately, this growth hasn't facilitated more simplicity for businesses navigating this landscape. Because, what we’re seeing now is a market that is more accessible than ever but also more complex, competitive, and scrutinised, reflecting broader emerging trends in medicinal cannabis. For stakeholders across the sector, understanding this evolution is imperative, as where the industry has come from explains its current friction points, and more importantly, signals where it is heading next.
To unpack what this means for businesses, this article begins a new EQWELLIBRIYUM series on standing out in Australia’s evolving medicinal cannabis landscape.
Legalisation - Facilitating Medicinal Cannabis Access
Prior to legalisation in 2016, access to cannabis-based therapies in Australia was extremely limited, largely confined to special access arrangements and clinical trials (Australian Government, 2016). The legalisation of medicinal cannabis marked a significant regulatory milestone within Australia’s evolving regulations and compliance framework, but early access remained highly controlled and administratively burdensome.
The introduction of pathways such as the Special Access Scheme (SAS-B) and the Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme created a formalised framework for prescribing. However, uptake was slow, with many practitioners lacking education, confidence, and clarity; challenges that continue to be highlighted by ongoing evidence gaps and misconceptions within the industry (Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2025).
In these early years, prescribing was largely concentrated among specialists and a small subset of early adopters. General practitioners were often hesitant, not due to lack of interest, but due to limited education and the administrative burden associated with approvals (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2025).
For patients, access was often fragmented and time-intensive. The system required persistence, financial commitment, and navigation through a still-developing regulatory environment. At this stage, the industry was defined less by scale and more by uncertainty.
Scale - Patient Access & Increasing Complexity
Today, the landscape looks markedly different. By 2024, more than one million Australians had accessed medicinal cannabis through legal pathways, reflecting both a reduction in stigma and increased participation from healthcare professionals (Medical Board of Australia, 2024) .
This growth has been supported by an expanding prescriber base, including general practitioners, specialists, authorised prescribers, and nurse practitioners, all of whom now play a role in facilitating patient access (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, 2025).Notably, there has been a significant increase in the number of Authorised Prescribers over time, reflecting growing clinician confidence and familiarity with prescribing pathways.
Access pathways have also become more established, though not without ongoing challenges. The SAS-B pathway remains the most commonly used, requiring individual approvals for each patient, while the Authorised Prescriber scheme offers a more scalable alternative but continues to see slower uptake due to perceived complexity (Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2025) .
This increase in Authorised Prescribers has also enabled new models of care to emerge. One of the most significant shifts has been the emergence of cannabis-specific telehealth clinics. These models have played a critical role in improving accessibility, particularly for patients in regional and remote areas, and have contributed significantly to overall market growth (CannabisPlace, 2020) . However, their rapid expansion has also raised questions around consistency of care and the sustainability of high-volume prescribing models.
Pharmacists have become an increasingly important component of the ecosystem, acting as a consistent point of contact for patients. Their role extends beyond dispensing to include patient education, product guidance, and collaboration with prescribers to ensure continuity of care (NPS MedicineWise, 2020).
Forecasting - Industry Evolution
As the industry continues to evolve, the next phase of growth must be defined by quality, consistency, and differentiation rather than access alone.
Regulatory developments are already pointing toward expanded prescribing authority. Proposed changes may allow registered nurses to prescribe certain scheduled medicines under formal agreements, potentially improving access in underserved areas and redistributing prescribing responsibilities across the healthcare system (Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2025).
At the same time, increased scrutiny, particularly around telehealth models, is expected to drive stronger clinical governance and more clearly defined standards of care. The industry is moving toward a more balanced model where accessibility must be matched by accountability.
Education will also play a defining role in the next stage of market development. As competition increases, stakeholders who invest in credible, compliant education for both practitioners and patients will be better positioned to build trust and deliver consistent outcomes.
Ultimately, the competitive landscape is shifting. As more clinics and providers enter the market, differentiation will become critical. Organisations that prioritise clinical integrity, operational efficiency, and patient experience will be best placed to succeed in an increasingly mature and regulated environment.
Learn More
EQWELLIBRIYUM offers end-to-end consulting for organisations navigating the medicinal cannabis market in Australia. With strategic insights and operational frameworks that are designed to help you thrive, we’re here to help you. Learn more by contacting us today at hello@eqwellibriyum.com.
Substitution Regulations Download
Sign up to our mailing list to receive a complimentary outline of the substitution regulations per state and territory within Australia.
Reference List
Australian Government. (2016). Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2016A00012/latest
Medical Board of Australia. (2024). Regulators come together as one million Australians turn to medicinal cannabis. Retrieved from https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2024-02-20-medical-cannabis-treatment.aspx
Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2025). Medicinal cannabis: Access pathways and usage data. Retrieved from https://www.tga.gov.au/products/unapproved-therapeutic-goods/medicinal-cannabis-hub/medicinal-cannabis-access-pathways-and-usage-data
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2025). Exploring access to medicinal cannabis through general practitioners in Australia. Retrieved from https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2025/march/exploring-access-to-medicinal-cannabis-through-gen
CannabisPlace. (2020). Cannabis clinics telehealth: Medical marijuana online Australia. Retrieved from https://www.cannabisplace.com.au/learn/telehealth-clinics-australia
NPS MedicineWise. (2020). Medicinal cannabis: 7 questions from pharmacists. Retrieved from https://www.nps.org.au/assets/Medicinal-cannabis-7-questions-from-pharmacists.pdf