The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved almost 6,000 medicinal cannabis prescriptions in October, a slight decline from September but still up sharply year-on-year, latest data has shown.

Figures published by the TGA revealed 5,972 prescriptions were approved through the Special Access Scheme, down 4% from the previous month’s record of 6,206.

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Special Access Scheme approvals for the past 12 months

But the total was 66% higher than October 2019 as the upward trajectory of approved prescriptions continued.

It brings the total number of SAS-B approvals in 2020 to 45,795.

The number of Authorised Prescribers climbed from 115 to 146 as at October 31.

Steve has reported for a number of consumer and B2B titles over a journalism career spanning more than three decades. He is a regulator contributor to health journal, The Medical Republic, writing on...