July saw the largest number of Special Access Scheme medicinal cannabis approvals of the year, with Victoria-based prescribers responsible for half the total, latest figures from the Therapeutic Goods Administration have shown.
The TGA rubber stamped 11,564 applications during the month, marginally more than the previous 2023 high of 11,260 recorded in March.
Victoria, for so long behind Queensland’s SAS-B numbers, generated 6,240 approvals, 54% of the total, with the sunshine state responsible for only 29%, or 3,360 approvals.
It is only the third time in four years that Queensland has lost top spot, but the second in as many months as approvals from Victoria continue to spike.
July’s numbers from Victoria are 41% higher than June, with the jump seeing the state edge past Queensland in the year to date.
Cannabiz has approached Victoria’s health department for comment.
Oral liquid accounted for 51% of total approvals (5,860), followed by flower with 37% (4,330), inhalation 7% (794) and capsules 2% (242).
The major indications for which medicinal cannabis was prescribed followed a familiar pattern with chronic pain accounting for 42%, anxiety 34%, sleep disorder 8%, depression 3% and PTSD 3%.
