January got off to a strong start for SAS-B approvals, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) clearing 10,596 applications for the month — up from 9,375 in December 2023.
Queensland picked up where it left off at the end of last year, recording the highest number of medicinal cannabis approvals of any state in January.
The TGA approved 4,067 SAS-B applications from the Sunshine State, while Victoria, which held the top position for much of 2023, came in second with 3,823 approvals.
Category 5, high-THC medicines accounted for close to half of all approvals, with roughly two thirds (68%) going to male patients — particularly those between 18 and 44 years old, who made up 43% of that cohort (2,252 out of 5,187 approvals).
Consistent with prior months, chronic pain remained the most frequently treated condition, making up 44% of approvals. Anxiety followed at 32%, with sleep disorders at 9%, and both PTSD and depression each at 2%.
Oral solutions were the most commonly approved format, comprising 49% of SAS-B applications, while flower accounted for 36%. Inhalation products and capsules made up 8% and 2% of approvals respectively.
The January SAS-B applications were submitted by 876 individual prescribers.
