Cultivation

The Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 (Cth) regulates cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and related scientific research purposes in Australia through a national scheme. 

Cannabis legally cultivated in Australia under this legislation may be manufactured into products for research, clinical trials or used by patients in accordance with the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth).

The Office of Drug Control within the Australian Government Department of Health oversees the licensing and regulation of cultivation in Australia to ensure compliance with our international obligations under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961.

The Australian Government licence and permit system controls the quantities and strains of cannabis that can be cultivated. The permit system also allows the Australian Government to meet its reporting obligations to the International Narcotics Control Board.

Further information about the cultivation, manufacture, import and export of medicinal cannabis is available from the Australian Government's Office of Drug Control website or you can contact the Office directly here.

Cultivation for personal use

In NSW, cultivation of cannabis for personal use remains illegal and is a matter for the NSW Attorney General under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW).