Medicinal cannabis is cannabis (or its derivatives) that health professionals can legally prescribe in Australia when other medicines have not worked.

The vast majority of medicinal cannabis products in Australia are "unapproved". This means the drug regulator (the Therapeutic Goods Administration or TGA) has not assessed them for safety, quality or effectiveness. Prescriptions for these products have risen sharply in recent years, prompting safety concerns.

Just two medicinal cannabis products are "approved" in Australia, including those for multiple sclerosis or for children with rare, severe forms of epilepsy. The TGA has assessed these for safety, quality or effectiveness.