The legal therapeutic use of medicines containing cannabis is often confused with the potential
legalisation/decriminalisation of the raw product (cannabis plant). The term medicinal cannabis refers to
pharmaceutical products containing cannabis that have been registered or listed on the Australian Register
of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), or exempted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), an agency of
the Australian Government.
Medical cannabis pharmaceuticals are prescription medicines, so access for each patient starts with
assessment by a medical practitioner.