The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved more than 16,000 Special Access Scheme applications in January, signalling a strong opening to 2025 for medicinal cannabis prescriptions.
The total — 16,218 — was 53% higher than the same month last year and was exceeded by only three months throughout 2024. The applications came from 855 prescribers, a slight decline from the 872 who submitted in January 2024.
Prescriptions for pastilles — commonly known as gummies — continued their upward trajectory, with the dosage form now accounting for nearly 14% of the market, compared to 4.8% of the 2024 total.
Flower remained the most commonly prescribed dosage form in January, making up 42% of approvals at 6,800, while oral solutions came second at 33.5%, accounting for 5,430 approvals.
Consistent with recent patterns, category five medicine — products containing more than 98% THC — extended its share of the market to 55%, up from 53% across the full 2024 period.
Category three products received 2,790 approvals, equating to 17% of the total, while category one CBD-dominant prescriptions made up 16%, or 2,640 approvals.
The conditions driving medicinal cannabis prescriptions were broadly in line with historical data.
Chronic pain was the leading indication at 41.5%, followed by anxiety at 34.3%, sleep disorders including insomnia at 12.6%, ADHD at 2.2%, and PTSD at 2.1%.
Victoria again produced the highest share of Special Access Scheme activity, with prescribers in the state responsible for 46% of approvals. Queensland followed at 33.6%, with New South Wales close behind at nearly 17%.
