The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) — the country’s agency for monitoring, assessing, and regulating therapeutic products — has initiated legal action against certain publishers over allegedly illegal cannabis advertisements, Reuters reports.
Under the Therapeutic Goods Act of 1989, companies are not allowed to advertise prescription medicines directly to the public without the TGA’s permission.
TGA officials announced the action on Friday, targeting News Corp Australia-owned News Life Media and other firms, including AG Therapeutics, Straight Up PR, and Mamamia.com.au, another media outlet. News Life Media and Mamamia are each accused of using prohibited messaging to promote medical cannabis, while officials said AG Therapeutics had improperly called cannabis products “plant medicine” and run online promotions for cannabis use.
“We allege that AG Therapeutics, Mamamia and News Life had been warned on multiple occasions in relation to the alleged unlawful advertising of therapeutic goods.” — TGA head Anthony Lawler, via Reuters
Australia has legalized medical cannabis at the federal level, but the program is strictly regulated, and adult-use cannabis remains prohibited. The Australian Medical Association announced last year that while it supports certain decriminalization policies, it opposes legalizing adult-use cannabis.
Meanwhile, the Australia Legal Cannabis Market report published last month said the market was worth about USD 126.32 million in 2024 and is expected to reach over USD 420 million by 2030.
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