Special Access Scheme medicinal cannabis approvals reached their highest point of the year in July, with prescribers based in Victoria accounting for half of all applications, according to the latest data from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The TGA cleared 11,564 applications during the month, just ahead of the previous 2023 high of 11,260 recorded in March.
Victoria, which had long trailed Queensland in SAS-B figures, produced 6,240 approvals — 54% of the national total — while Queensland contributed just 29%, or 3,360 approvals.
It is only the third time in four years that Queensland has ceded the top position, though it is the second consecutive month in which Victoria has come out ahead as the state's numbers continue to rise sharply.
Victoria's July total was 41% higher than in June, a surge sufficient to push the state past Queensland in year-to-date figures.
Victoria's health department has been approached for comment.
Oral liquid made up 51% of total approvals at 5,860, followed by flower at 37% with 4,330, inhalation at 7% with 794, and capsules at 2% with 242.
The leading conditions for which medicinal cannabis was prescribed remained consistent with prior months: chronic pain accounted for 42% of approvals, anxiety for 34%, sleep disorder for 8%, depression for 3%, and PTSD for 3%.
