Almost 15,000 Special Access Scheme applications were approved last month, taking the 11-month total to 166,000, as pastilles again showed month-on-month growth.
The November total – the fifth highest of the year – included more than 8,000 approvals for THC category 5 medicine.
Flower remained the most prescribed dosage form, with four out of 10 consultations resulting in an application for dried herb, followed by oil on 37%.
Pastilles, or gummies, continued to make their mark, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rubber stamping 1,480 applications for the edible medicine, the highest monthly number of the year, and representing 10% of November approvals.
Inhalation accounted for close to 9% of approvals, but capsules again struggled to make an impact, appearing on only 159 prescription applications, just 1% of the November total.
There was little change in the types of conditions being treated with medicinal cannabis. In line with historical trends, chronic pain (42.6%), anxiety (32%), and sleep disorders (11.2%) were the top three, followed by depression (2.3%) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (1.7%).
Geographically, Victoria generated 41.7% of approved applications, followed by Queensland on 34.3% and New South Wales (19%).
More than six out of 10 approved applications were for patients aged 18-44, followed by those aged 45-64 who accounted for 31% of approvals.
A total of 909 doctors lodged a medicinal cannabis application during November.
