The year has started strongly for SAS-B approvals with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) rubber stamping 10,596 applications in January compared to 9,375 in December 2023.
Meanwhile, Queensland has started the new year as it ended the last one, generating the most medicinal cannabis approvals in the month.
The TGA approved 4,067 SAS-B applications from the sunshine state in January while Victoria, which led the way for much of 2023, was next up with 3,823.
High-THC, category 5 medicine contributed almost half the approvals, with just over two thirds (68%) being for men, particularly those aged 18 to 44 (2,252 of 5,187 approvals or 43%).
In line with previous months, chronic pain was the most common condition treated with medicinal cannabis (44%), followed by anxiety (32%), sleep disorder (9%) PTSD and depression (both 2%).
Oral solutions remained the popular format among SAS-B applications, accounting for 49% of approvals, with flower at 36%. Inhalation and capsules accounted for 8% and 2% respectively.
The SAS-B applications were generated by 876 prescribers.
