Cannabis in Australia: Navigating the Rocky Road Between Regulation and Reality
Article Written by Adam Isaac Miller
Read time: 4-5 mins
A response to the Australian Medical Association’s Call for Medical Cannabis Regulatory Reform Amid Industry Exploitation Concerns.
Australia finds itself at an interesting crossroads. Since medicinal cannabis was legalised in 2016, there has been a rapid increase in prescriptions that has left regulators scrambling and medical professionals deeply concerned. Recent reports from the ABC and RACGP noted that some doctors are issuing cannabis scripts every four minutes, with one practitioner writing 17,000 prescriptions in six months. This uncovering has exposed the dark underbelly of what was meant to be a carefully regulated medical system.
But here's the harsh reality: simply tightening restrictions won't solve the problem. It will likely make it worse!
The Cannabis Reality Check
Whilst cannabis is an incredible medicine with many therapeutic applications, recent research has shattered many comfortable myths about cannabis safety. While still far less harmful than alcohol, cannabis carries genuine risks that have been systematically understated.
Cannabis is more addictive than we thought. About 20% of users develop Cannabis Use Disorder, with 10% developing serious addiction. Heavy users experience withdrawal symptoms, including headaches, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances that can last weeks.
Modern cannabis is remarkably potent. THC concentrations have more than doubled in recent decades, with some products reaching 98% THC. As one expert noted, we're dealing with "Chernobyl-strength" cannabis being routinely prescribed for common conditions like insomnia and anxiety.
The brain pays a price. Heavy use significantly impairs memory, learning, reasoning, and impulse control. For teenagers, the risks are particularly severe, with strong links to psychosis, schizophrenia, and lifelong mental health problems.
The "fast food" clinic model is failing to meet patients' needs. The current system allows patients to receive high-strength THC prescriptions after brief phone consultations with nurses, often without ever speaking to the prescribing doctor. This isn't medicine—it's a commercial transaction disguised as healthcare.
Australia's Cannabis Consumption Reality
Here's what policymakers must acknowledge: Cannabis is the most widely used drug worldwide. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2024, an estimated 228 million people used cannabis in 2022, making it the most used drug in its category.
The reality is, Australians are already consuming cannabis at extraordinarily high rates, regardless of its legal status. The prescription boom hasn't created new users—it's largely captured existing demand from the black market.
Drug Household survey data from 2023, approximately 2.5 million Australians used cannabis in the previous 12 months, representing 11.5% of the population aged 14 and over. Furthermore, an estimated 3% of Australians used cannabis for medical purposes that year. However, only about 3 out of 10 people who use cannabis for medical reasons do so with a legal prescription (script).
This presents a regulatory dilemma. Crack down too hard on legal access, and users will return to illegal sources. The black market has evolved rapidly, with sophisticated online platforms now offering home delivery of cannabis products. These operators are ready and waiting to recapture market share if legal access becomes too restrictive.
The Education Imperative
The solution isn't found in the extremes of either unrestricted access or prohibition. It lies in the middle ground between responsible regulation and aggressive education.
We need qualified practitioners who can educate. The doctors and pharmacists working in legitimate cannabis medicine—many of whom have dedicated years to understanding these complex medications—provide something the black market never can: education about responsible use, drug interactions, appropriate dosing, and honest discussions about risks. I’ve spoken with many professionals who take pride in their ability to help heavy users become more moderate users.
Patient engagement is essential. Some patients will dismiss warnings about cannabis risks just as they do with tobacco and alcohol. However, many others, when properly informed about the genuine risks of high-THC products and the potential for dependency, will make more cautious choices.
Honest risk communication saves lives. The pendulum swung too far from "reefer madness" hysteria to "cannabis is harmless" mythology. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. Cannabis has legitimate medical applications, particularly for epilepsy, chemotherapy side effects, and palliative care, but it's not the panacea it's often portrayed to be.
A Balanced Path Forward
The goal shouldn't be to eliminate cannabis use—that ship has sailed. Instead, what is required is a system that acknowledges reality by accepting that Australians will continue using cannabis whether it's legal or not, while prioritising safety through ensuring users have access to quality-controlled products and medical supervision.
This system must emphasise education by providing honest information about risks and responsible use, protect the vulnerable through implementing stronger protections for teenagers and those with mental health conditions, and maintain legitimacy by ensuring the medical cannabis system serves genuine medical needs rather than recreational demand.
Ironically, the articles which promoted this response were released at the same time a study concluded public health-oriented recreational cannabis access may decrease cannabis use and cannabis-related harms, especially among those using other drugs.
The Stakes Are High
Getting this balance wrong has serious consequences. Too restrictive, and it leads users back to an unregulated black market where products are untested, potency is unknown, and no medical oversight exists. Too permissive, and we enable the current "prescription mill" model that's putting profits before patient safety.
The evidence is clear that cannabis carries real risks, particularly high-THC products and heavy use patterns. But the evidence is equally clear that prohibition doesn't work. What is required is regulation that acknowledges both the therapeutic potential and genuine risks of cannabis, while ensuring that those who choose to use it can do so as safely as possible.
The alternative—watching from the sidelines as commercial interests exploit vulnerable patients while the black market prepares to reclaim its territory—serves no one except those who profit from the chaos.
Australia has an opportunity to lead the world in developing a rational, evidence-based approach to cannabis regulation. But only if we're willing to have honest conversations about both the benefits and risks and resist the temptation of simple solutions to complex problems.
Adam has spent a decade working with unregistered medicines, specialising in Cannabinoid Therapeutics, where he has supported the development, implementation and market entry of multiple cannabinoid product portfolios across Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Brazil. Before working in the medical cannabis field, Adam spent nearly ten years building various B2B businesses in education, investment, and medicinal cannabis, progressing through roles in business development, strategy, product development, and project management. As one of the early experts in Australia's emerging cannabis industry, he has consulted for private and listed cannabis producers and ancillary businesses since 2015. Adam founded and served on the board of The Medical Cannabis Council, Australia's first not-for-profit industry body. A graduate of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Entrepreneurship, he is a frequent public speaker and publishes a widely read industry newsletter. His expertise has been featured in major news outlets, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, Nine News, Startup Smart, SBS, SkyNews, MJBizDaily and other prominent publications.
Disclaimer: This information is shared with a global readership for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or business advice. All patient-related information has been de-identified OR fictional to protect privacy. Nothing in this article is intended to promote the use or supply of medical cannabis to members of the public.
