We’ve been so wrapped up with election coverage in the US the past few weeks, we almost forgot to share the great news happening around the world! Medical cannabis providers may now apply to grow medical marijuana in Australia.
Australia opened up the cultivation of medical marijuana on October 30 by voting after passing new legislation allowing licensed cultivation and production of cannabis for medicinal and scientific purposes early this year.
“Until now, it has been difficult for patients to access medicinal cannabis products from overseas sources,” Federal Health Minister Sussan Ley said.
Under strict regulations, new medical cannabis cultivators will have to comply with a set of legislations and classify their harvest with the Therapeutic Goods Administration. States and territories will also retain control over licensing and product output.
In order to qualify, cultivators must also pass “strict fit and proper persons requirements and other legislative tests relating to security.”
This a milestone in marijuana legalization and policy that is due to affect not only the domestic supply of medical cannabis, but also drive new economy through the new industry. According to spokesman from an Australian investment group, “the [Australian] domestic medicinal cannabis market could be worth more than $75 million a year.”
“The US has a well established cannabis markets and there’s no reason to suppose consumer demand or product pricing in Australian will be any different relative to the two countries population difference,” he also said.
Recreational marijuana is still illegal under the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Act 2016, so the Australian government plans to keep a watchful eye over the medical industry. In an opposite approach to the US, Australia legalized medical marijuana nationally and has left licensing and other approaches to legislation the hands of local areas.
Want to grow medical marijuana in Australia? Check out their guidelines here.
