New figures from Prohibition Partners show that the medicinal cannabis sectors in Australia and New Zealand are entering a more mature, data-driven phase, shaped by growing THC product use, shifting patient access models, and heightened regulatory scrutiny.
The Australia & New Zealand Cannabis Data Pack charted how both markets have expanded rapidly since legalisation, each following a distinct path toward stability and oversight.
Australia — the second-largest medical cannabis market outside the US — is forecast to record sales exceeding $1 billion before the end of 2025.
That growth has been driven by telehealth prescribing, a wider range of available products, and an increasing number of specialist clinics. Dried flower and other inhalable formats posted the fastest gains through 2023 and 2024.
While CBD and balanced oil products continued to attract patients seeking "non-intoxicating options", THC-dominant products underpinned the bulk of commercial activity.
"High-THC products…account for the majority of both prescription volume and total sales value," the report said.
Prices held steady across product categories, and "total category values point to sustained double-digit growth over the past year".
Domestic output also increased — licensed cultivators produced 41 tonnes in 2024, up from 25 tonnes the previous year — while exports to Germany were projected to double in 2025.
The report also highlighted a significant concern facing the sector: the ongoing Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review, prompted by concerns about the pace of the industry's expansion.
In New Zealand, the data showed that the market — valued at NZ$78 million (A$68m) — continued to consolidate following the introduction of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme in 2020.
The scheme broadened patient access and allowed all licensed doctors to prescribe cannabis-based medicines without requiring ministerial approval.
New Zealand's market — insulated from the TGA review — had been defined by "steady, sustainable growth and a measured approach to regulation", according to the report.
Access remained open to all licensed physicians, supported by telemedicine and a small number of specialist providers such as Cannabis Clinic.
Prescribing data showed a sharp rise in THC-only medicines — climbing from fewer than 100 monthly items in early 2020 to more than 22,000 by March 2025 — reflecting the scheme's effect on clinical practice.
Over the same period, CBD-only prescriptions reached around 6,900 per month and combined THC and CBD formulations reached 3,100, pointing to a clear patient and prescriber preference for THC-dominant flower and inhalable products, particularly for pain management.
The Australia & New Zealand Cannabis Data Pack, part of Prohibition Partners' broader Asia-Pacific series, includes detailed breakdowns of both markets through to 2029.
It is available to purchase here.
