Three medicinal cannabis companies have collectively received 73 advertising infringement notices and fines totalling close to A$1m from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Little Green Pharma received a $372,960 penalty for allegedly advertising cannabis products unlawfully on 28 separate occasions, while Cannatrek was fined close to $300,000 across 22 alleged infringements, and MGC Pharmaceuticals faced a $306,360 fine for 23 alleged breaches.
In each case, the alleged violations related to advertising medicinal cannabis products on company websites and social media channels.
The TGA said the companies "allegedly promoted the use of prescription-only medicinal cannabis products, including in certain cases their own named products.
"It is also alleged that the unlawful advertising included unapproved references to the treatment of serious diseases or conditions, including in some cases cancer and epilepsy.
"Further, some advertising allegedly suggested or implied that particular medicinal cannabis products were recommended or approved by a government authority."
In a statement, the regulator added: "While the TGA facilitates legal pathways for medical practitioners to prescribe medicinal cannabis products to patients, the medicinal cannabis products that are [the] subject of these infringement notices are unapproved prescription-only medicines that cannot be advertised to consumers."
The TGA said that advertising prescription-only medicines directly to the public "undermines the doctor-patient relationship and may create an inappropriate demand for particular medicines which may not be right for the individual".
"Ensuring compliance with the import, advertising and supply requirements of the Act in relation to medicinal cannabis is a priority for the TGA," it said. "We will continue to investigate and take action in relation to alleged non-compliant advertising of medicinal cannabis products to the public."
LGP, Cannatrek and MGC Pharmaceuticals have been approached for comment.
