The AusCannaPodcast: Are We Losing the Patient Voice? Medicinal Cannabis at a Turning Point

There’s a shift happening in the Australian medicinal cannabis industry.As the space grows and becomes more commercial, many are starting to ask the same question: Are we losing the patient voice?In this episode, I sit down with Bee Mohamed, a government relations and advocacy professional working at the intersection of policy and lived experience, to unpack where things really stand.We talk about the move from grassroots advocacy to industry growth, and the growing disconnect between decision-making and real patient experience.Bee shares why lived experience needs to go beyond tokenism and be embedded into how policy is actually shaped. Plus, we explore what it would take to bring patients back into the centre of the conversation. We also get practical. From patient-led events to better industry support for advocacy, this isn’t just about what’s broken… It’s about what we can build next.Because this space was created for patients, and the future of it depends on whether we keep them at the centre.👉 Got a Rapid Fire question you want me to ask a guest? Email them to [email protected]. I love including questions from the community!💚 Want to support the podcast? Tap the Buy Me a Coffee link in the show notes!In this episode, we cover a lot of topics, including:* Rapid Fire (2:04)* From Grassroots to Growth: Are We Losing the Patient Voice? (10:02)* The Problem With “Patient Consultation” (TGA Breakdown) (14:01)* Why Patient Stories Actually Change Policy (19:01)* When Profit Enters: Has the Industry Shifted Too Far… What Can You Do For Me? (22:58)* Collaboration vs Gatekeeping: What Needs to Change (28:57)* “The Peace Pipe”: A New Kind of Patient Event… Looking For Sponsors (31:15)* Can Companies Support Advocacy Without Breaking the Rules? (34:01)* Outdated Systems: Prescribing, Access & Education Gaps (37:01)* What Needs to Happen Next (Patients, Clinicians, Industry) (41:58)* The Meaning Behind Mata & Storytelling as Medicine (45:01)* Full Circle Moment (49:00)Show Notes:* The Mata Collective Website* Drive Change* Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers 2026Where to Find Bee:* Bee on SubStack (The Mata Collective)* Bee on Instagram* Bee on LinkedInWhere to Find Christina:* @AusCannaReviews on SubStack* @AusCannaReviews on Instagram* @AusCannaReviews on Twitter/X* Email [email protected]* Buy Me A Coffee/AusCannaPodcast This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit auscannareviews.substack.com