The latest data shows November was the third busiest month of the year for Special Access Scheme approvals of medicinal cannabis.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved 11,430 medicinal cannabis applications during the month, a figure surpassed in 2022 only by March and May.
With November's numbers included, the cumulative total for the first eleven months of 2022 reached 110,850. For context, the TGA issued 122,480 approvals across the entire 2021 calendar year.
The Authorised Prescriber scheme also saw activity in November, with applications lodged through that pathway just crossing the 1,000 mark.
Within November's SAS-B figures, schedule 8 approvals accounted for 9,322 — equivalent to 82% of the monthly total — while schedule 4 medications made up the remaining share.
Oral liquid products held a 52% share of the market, with flower accounting for 37%.
Consistent with patterns seen in prior months, chronic pain was the leading indication at 45% of approvals, followed by anxiety at 31% and sleep disorder at 6.6%.
