Working with medicinal cannabis

Every medicinal cannabis licence holder (or ‘responsible person’, if the licence holder is a body corporate or partnership) must handle any cannabis, cannabis-based ingredients and any medicinal cannabis products in their possession or control in a way that meets the following requirements.

About the minimum quality standard for medicinal cannabis products and the requirements, shelf life and storage conditions.

You will need to apply to have your products assessed by the Medicinal Cannabis Agency before your products can be added to a new or existing Supply activity (or for CBD products, to a licence to wholesale medicines).

Medicinal cannabis products, except for CBD products, are controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. Licence holders require a controlled drug import or export licence if they intend to import or export medicinal cannabis seeds, material, ingredients or products.

Only products that are approved medicines (ie, have consent for distribution) under the Medicines Act 1981 can be advertised. The sale, distribution or advertising of unapproved medicines is a breach of the Medicines Act.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance found in cannabis that has some therapeutic value and little-to-no psychoactive properties. CBD products are prescription-only medicines.