Australia’s regulatory body for health professionals, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra), has announced a crackdown on unsafe prescribing practices related to medicinal cannabis. This decision comes in response to a significant surge in patient demand and rising concerns regarding the integrity of prescribing methods among health practitioners.
In a statement released on March 15, 2024, Ahpra highlighted issues such as aggressive marketing by clinics and alarmingly brief consultations, some lasting only seconds, prior to prescribing medicinal cannabis. These practices have contributed to a troubling trend, with reports of certain practitioners issuing over 17,000 prescriptions in just six months, raising questions about the appropriateness of such prescribing habits.
Ahpra is particularly concerned about reports linking medicinal cannabis to adverse mental health effects, including psychosis, and the appropriateness of high-dose prescriptions. There is also scrutiny surrounding prescriptions made to family members or individuals under the age of 18.
Despite these concerns, Ahpra’s recent announcement does not introduce new regulations for prescribing or marketing medicinal cannabis. Instead, it serves as a reminder to healthcare professionals about existing guidelines. The agency plans to investigate practitioners who demonstrate unusually high prescribing rates, even in the absence of complaints.
According to the 2022–23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, approximately 3% of Australians aged 14 and over, or around 700,000 individuals, reported using cannabis for medical purposes within the last year. In the first half of 2024 alone, Australians spent over A$400 million on medicinal cannabis products.
Despite its legal availability since 2016, medicinal cannabis is only supposed to be prescribed after other approved treatments have failed. Ahpra has observed that many health practitioners may be too willing to prescribe medicinal cannabis upon patient request without conducting thorough assessments. This raises concerns about whether patients are receiving the most suitable care.
A recent analysis of 54 private medicinal cannabis clinics in Australia revealed numerous instances of aggressive marketing tactics that may mislead potential patients. Many clinics were found to violate marketing regulations, making unverified health claims about their products, such as their efficacy in treating conditions like anxiety and depression. Some websites facilitated self-assessments, potentially misleading users into believing they would benefit from medicinal cannabis.
The marketing strategies employed by these clinics often include promises of same-day delivery, discounted consultation fees, and targeted advertisements on social media platforms, particularly aimed at younger audiences.
Ahpra’s focus on safer prescribing practices is a step in the right direction, but experts believe the agency could do more. Carmen Lim, a researcher involved in the study, suggests that a more robust approach should include stricter guidelines on digital marketing practices that target young people.
Going forward, many advocate for Ahpra to broaden its oversight beyond just prescribing patterns. Stronger regulations on advertising practices, clearer guidelines for clinics, and more significant penalties for repeat offenders engaging in misleading advertising could enhance patient safety.
Lim emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy that not only addresses prescribing practices but also tackles the pervasive nature of aggressive marketing tactics that could endanger patient health. The ongoing evolution of regulations surrounding medicinal cannabis in Australia highlights the necessity for a balanced approach that prioritizes patient safety and well-being.
