August recorded a significant increase in Special Access Scheme Category B medicinal cannabis approvals, surpassing July's total by nearly 4,000 applications.
The TGA approved 15,371 applications throughout the month, up from an adjusted 11,563 in July – which had itself been the highest monthly figure recorded so far this year.
Prescribers based in Victoria again topped the national figures with 8,091 approvals, ahead of Queensland with 4,231 and New South Wales with 2,202.
For the second month in a row, Victorian prescribers accounted for more than half of all SAS-B approvals nationally.
The regulator's year-to-date data shows 37,124 approvals originating from Victoria, compared to 32,503 from Queensland.
Flower gained ground on oil during August, making up 41% of approvals at 6,244 — an increase from 37% in July. Oil dropped from 51% the previous month to 48% in August, with 7,412 approvals.
Inhalation products accounted for 7% of approvals with 1,099, while capsules made up 2% with 270 — both figures holding steady from July.
Across the year to date, oil continues to lead flower by 51% to 37%.
The breakdown of major indications remained broadly consistent with prior months: chronic pain accounted for 41% of approvals, anxiety for 31%, sleep disorder for 9%, and both depression and PTSD for 4% each.
