They write
Suppliers and prescribers of medicinal cannabis are flouting the rules.
A 2025 study analysed 54 Australian medicinal cannabis provider websites. The authors found nearly half were violating at least two TGA guidelines.
Common violations included using cannabis imagery, unsubstantiated health claims, and patient testimonials.
Researchers also identified self-assessment tools that may “coach” patients on qualifying conditions – with some clinics positioning access as fast and hassle-free.
One company ran more than 170 social media ads in a single month, many reaching users as young as 18.
Take our quiz
Here’s a mock-up of a medicinal cannabis website. It’s fictional, but it highlights the many ways clinics can breach laws or guidelines designed to prohibit direct-to-consumer advertising of medicinal cannabis.
It’s based on the types of issues researchers have documented, past TGA infringement notices and current websites promoting medicinal cannabis.
Some breaches are more obvious than others.
They Write
Let’s get started
Click (or touch) the elements of the website below you think breach laws or TGA guidelines about medicinal cannabis promotion.
But to keep you on your toes, we’ve thrown in some red herrings – elements of the website that are actually OK.
Can you spot all ten breaches?
Well done if you found all ten breaches in our fictional website.
But if you can spot them, why are so many medicinal cannabis clinics, social media posts and traditional media accused of breaking the advertising rules?
Since 2023, the TGA has issued more than A$2.3 million in fines for medicinal cannabis advertising breaches. It has commenced three Federal Court proceedings. None have yet resulted in a judgement.
In July 2025, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) said it was concerned about emerging business models that appear to use “aggressive and sometimes misleading advertising” to target vulnerable people.
Click on image to take the test
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