Episode 29: Medicinal Cannabis & the Law – Navigating AHPRA’s new rules

The regulatory landscape surrounding medicinal cannabis in Australia is evolving rapidly, with significant implications for healthcare professionals, legal practitioners, and insurers alike. Staying informed is essential to ensure compliance with new standards and to support safe, ethical prescribing practices. In this episode of The Checkup, BN’s Lee Lenkinski and Joshua Scott revisit the topic of medicinal cannabis in light of new guidelines from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) released in July 2025. They explore the regulatory changes since their previous episode, the rationale behind them, and what these developments mean for clinicians and the broader health sector. Together, they unpack the key obligations now expected of prescribers, including comprehensive patient assessments, evidence-based prescribing, and the importance of informed consent, particularly when dealing with unapproved products. They also highlight the risks of poor practice, the parallels with opioid prescribing, and the Australian Medical Association’s support for tighter regulation through the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) current consultation process. Key questions considered in this episode include: What are AHPRA’s new expectations for prescribing medicinal cannabis? How can practitioners ensure they are prescribing safely and legally? What are the clinical and legal risks of poor prescribing practices? What role does the TGA’s consultation play in shaping future regulation? This episode offers practical guidance for healthcare professionals navigating the complexities of medicinal cannabis prescribing, helping them align with current regulatory expectations and uphold their duty of care. This episode of The Checkup was edited by Audio Advantage. Further reading and references: Danielle Dawson, Daniel Stjepanović, Valentina Lorenzetti, Christy Cheung, Wayne Hall, Janni Leung (2024): The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Janni Leung, Gary C.K. Chan, Leanne Hides, Wayne D. Hall (2020): What is the prevalence and risk of cannabis use disorders among people who use cannabis? a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dawson, D., Stjepanovic, D., Lorenzetti, V., Cheung, C., Hall, W. and Leung, J. (2024): The prevalence of cannabis use disorders in people who use medicinal cannabis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. C.M. Brummett, J.F. Waljee, J. Goesling, et al. (2017): New Persistent Opioid Use After Minor and Major Surgical Procedures in US Adults | Pain Medicine | JAMA Surgery | JAMA Network. EMCDDA explores new dynamics and dimensions of Europe’s drugs problem | www.euda.europa.eu UNODC (2017): Responses to Annual Report Questionnaire. United Nations: Office for Drugs and Crime.  Budney AJ, Hughes JR, Moore BA, et al. (2004): Review of the Validity and Significance of Cannabis Withdrawal Syndrome | American Journal of Psychiatry. Allsop DJ, Norberg MM, Copeland J, et al. (2011): The Cannabis Withdrawal Scale development: Patterns and predictors of cannabis withdrawal and distress. Deepak Cyril D’Souza, Jose A. Cortes-Briones, Mohini Ranganathan, Halle Thurnauer, Gina Creatura, Toral Surti, Beata Planeta, Alexander Neumeister, Brian Pittman, Marc D. Normandin, Michael Kapinos, Jim Ropchan, Yiyun Huang, Richard E. Carson, Patrick D. Skosnik (2016): Rapid Changes in Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Availability in Cannabis-Dependent Male Subjects After Abstinence From Cannabis. Clarifications: [17:44] – 'EMCDDA' referenced as 'EMCCDA'. [18:50] - Prominent symptoms referenced in Allsop DJ, Norberg MM, Copeland J, et al. (2011).