News Brief: Australia’s Medicinal Cannabis Dilemma
Summary
The suspension of a high-volume telehealth cannabis prescriber has exposed systemic tensions in Australia’s medicinal cannabis framework. The situation highlights a booming, profitable industry operating under a special access scheme, now facing calls for stricter controls from major medical and pharmacy bodies, while advocates push for full legalization. The government faces a policy bind with limited political incentive to act.
Key Points
- Prescriber Suspension: Doctor Justin Welsh, who issued over 14,700 scripts this year (~65/day), was banned by the Medical Board, disrupting supply for many patients and pharmacies reliant on his prescriptions.
- System Under Scrutiny: A $1 billion annual industry has grown since 2016 under a “special access” pathway, allowing prescriptions without standard drug trials for safety/efficacy.
- Call for Tighter Control: The AMA and Pharmacy Guild urge regulating cannabis like other prescription drugs, citing over-prescription for conditions like anxiety without strong evidence.
- Legalization Push: Groups like the Penington Institute advocate full legalization, but face opposition from doctors warning of stronger modern cannabis and negative overseas experiences.
- Recreational Abuse: Regulators note the system is being exploited for recreational use via telehealth “loopholes,” with easy access compared to the black market.
- Political Stalemate: The government lacks clear political motivation to either crack down or fully legalize, leaving the future direction uncertain.
新闻简报：澳大利亚药用大麻的两难境地
摘要
一名高产量的远程医疗大麻处方医生被暂停资格，暴露了澳大利亚药用大麻体系内的系统性紧张局势。此情况揭示了一个在特殊准入计划下运作的、利润丰厚的繁荣产业，目前正面临主要医疗和药剂机构要求加强监管的呼声，而倡导者则推动全面合法化。政府陷入政策困境，缺乏采取行动的政治动力。
关键点
- 处方医生被禁：贾斯汀·威尔士医生今年开具了超过14,700张处方（约每天65张），被医疗委员会暂停资格，扰乱了许多依赖其处方的患者和药房的供应。
- 受审查的体系：自2016年以来，一个年产值10亿澳元的产业在“特殊准入”途径下发展起来，允许在未经过标准药品安全性和有效性试验的情况下开具处方。
- 呼吁加强监管：澳大利亚医学协会和药剂师公会呼吁像监管其他处方药一样监管大麻，指出存在针对焦虑等病症的缺乏证据的过度处方现象。
- 合法化推动：彭宁顿研究所等团体倡导全面合法化，但遭到医生反对，他们警告现代大麻强度更高以及海外的负面经验。
- 娱乐性滥用：监管机构指出该系统正通过远程医疗“漏洞”被滥用于娱乐目的，与黑市相比更容易获得。
- 政治僵局：政府缺乏明确的的政治动机来严厉打击或全面合法化，导致未来方向不确定。
Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-15/australia-s-medicinal-cannabis-bind-is-a-political-hot-potato/106140878