Why is the cost of medical cannabis so high?

At present, only two medicinal cannabis products are listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and one is listed with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (BPS) for use in children with Dravet Syndrome requiring an authority script. For all other cannabinoid based medicines via the SAS Category B pathway or through an authorised prescriber, the patient bears the full cost of the medication.

The cost of cannabinoid-based medications has decreased over the last few years and this is expected to continue as economies of scale come into play in this relatively new industry in Australia.