{
  "name": "TGA Medicinal Cannabis Advertising Enforcement Tracker",
  "description": "Chronological record of TGA infringement notices, Federal Court proceedings and guidance changes concerning medicinal cannabis advertising in Australia, 2021 to date. Each entry links to the primary TGA media release.",
  "publisher": "Section 42 Compliance",
  "licence": "Free to reuse and quote with attribution and a link.",
  "temporal_coverage": "2021/2026",
  "updated": "2026-07-28",
  "verified_by_human": true,
  "verified_by_human_on": "2026-07-28",
  "verified_by_human_note": "Set by the owner on 28 July 2026. This attests to the register AS PUBLISHED — including its own confidence markers, which are part of the claim rather than caveats to it. Every one of the 22 entries carries a source_url to the primary TGA release. 17 have a fully confirmed date; 5 are published with date_confidence saying so on the page itself. The attestation is that nothing here is asserted more confidently than it has been checked. It does NOT mean the 5 soft dates have been resolved — see the list below — and it must go back to false if an entry is added or amended without being sourced.",
  "still_to_confirm": [
    "2026-07 TGA 2026-27 compliance priorities — month confirmed, exact publication day not verified",
    "2026-05 'Complying with the restrictions on advertising prescription medicines to the public' — month only",
    "2025-06 AG Therapeutics (Atlus) / Mamamia / News Life / Straight Up PR Federal Court proceedings — month only",
    "2025 Dispensed Pty Ltd $118,800 — year only; open the release and confirm the date",
    "2023-10 News Life Media $56,340 — month only"
  ],
  "canonical_sources": {
    "infringement_notices_register": "https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/compliance-and-enforcement/compliance-actions-and-outcomes/infringement-notices",
    "court_action_register": "https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/compliance-and-enforcement/compliance-actions-and-outcomes/court-action",
    "medicinal_cannabis_news": "https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/medicinal-cannabis-hub/medicinal-cannabis-news-and-updates",
    "_note": "The TGA publishes infringement notices and court actions across all therapeutic goods. Neither register is filtered to medicinal cannabis, and neither is machine-readable. That gap is what this tracker fills."
  },
  "summary": {
    "notices_and_amounts_are_as_at": "2026-07-28",
    "two_year_notice_total_aud": "2300000+",
    "two_year_period": "roughly mid-2022 to 26 June 2024, as stated by the TGA in its 26 June 2024 release",
    "infringement_notices": "165+",
    "federal_court_proceedings": 3,
    "fy2022_23_notices": 101,
    "fy2022_23_notice_value_aud": 1292040,
    "fy2022_23_ads_removed_from_platforms": 351,
    "fy2022_23_share_of_tga_advertising_enquiries_about_cannabis": "25%",
    "ahpra_practitioners_actioned": 57,
    "ahpra_practitioners_under_investigation": 60,
    "ahpra_figures_as_at": "2025-07"
  },
  "entries": [
    {
      "period": "2026-07",
      "type": "priority",
      "party": "Sector-wide",
      "summary": "TGA 2026–27 compliance priorities name medicinal cannabis one of 12 focus areas, alongside vaping goods, weight-loss medicines and melatonin, with proactive digital surveillance.",
      "outcome": "Ongoing",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/how-we-regulate/compliance-and-enforcement-hub",
      "date_confidence": "month"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-05",
      "type": "guidance",
      "party": "Sector-wide",
      "summary": "TGA publishes Complying with the restrictions on advertising prescription medicines to the public, naming medicinal cannabis explicitly.",
      "outcome": "Guidance",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/advertising-medicinal-cannabis-products-prohibited",
      "date_confidence": "month"
    },
    {
      "period": "2026-02-20",
      "type": "guidance",
      "party": "Sector-wide",
      "summary": "TGA publishes its response to the review of unapproved medicinal cannabis products. 790 submissions; stakeholders agreed the current access framework is 'not fit-for-purpose'. Regulatory reform options to follow.",
      "outcome": "Consultation outcome",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "consultations.tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://consultations.tga.gov.au/medicines-regulation-division/test-soms/"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-11-05",
      "type": "guidance",
      "party": "Sector-wide",
      "summary": "TGA releases updated social media advertising guidance. Hashtags are named expressly as capable of forming part of an advertisement, and businesses are told they must monitor and remove non-compliant public comments on their own posts.",
      "outcome": "Guidance",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/advertising-therapeutic-goods-social-media"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-07-09",
      "type": "guidance",
      "party": "Sector-wide (practitioners)",
      "summary": "Ahpra publishes medicinal cannabis prescribing guidance, warning against misleading advertising, 'tick box' asynchronous telehealth and vertically integrated clinic models. 57 practitioners actioned, 60 under investigation.",
      "outcome": "Guidance",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "ahpra.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2025-07-09-Medicinal-cannabis-guidance.aspx"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025-06",
      "type": "court",
      "party": "AG Therapeutics Pty Ltd (trading as Atlus) and its sole director, Mamamia.com.au Pty Ltd, News Life Media Pty Ltd, Straight Up PR Pty Ltd",
      "summary": "Federal Court proceedings. The TGA alleges Atlus advertised medicinal cannabis on its website and social media using euphemisms such as 'plant medicine' — the clearest published authority that substitute terms do not avoid the prohibition.",
      "outcome": "Federal Court",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/atlus-mamamia-and-news-life-media-face-court-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis",
      "date_confidence": "month"
    },
    {
      "period": "2025",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "Dispensed Pty Ltd",
      "summary": "6 infringement notices plus a direction notice, including advertising carried on third-party websites and social media.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices + direction",
      "amount_aud": 118800,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/dispensed-pty-ltd-issued-infringement-notices-and-directed-cease-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis",
      "date_confidence": "unconfirmed"
    },
    {
      "period": "2024-06-26",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "6 businesses and 2 individuals",
      "summary": "35 infringement notices in a single action across websites and social media — licensed manufacturers and importers, a health clinic and a retailer. Endorsements of cannabis for cancer, PTSD and chronic pain.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 627252,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/more-600000-fines-issued-alleged-unlawful-medicinal-cannabis-advertising"
    },
    {
      "period": "2024-05-23",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "Better Leaf Pty Ltd and an individual",
      "summary": "11 notices — 9 to the company ($164,460) and 2 to an individual ($7,512) — over website and social media references to PTSD and epilepsy.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 171972,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/better-leaf-pty-ltd-fined-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2024-04-18",
      "type": "court",
      "party": "Montu Group Pty Ltd, Alternaleaf Pty Ltd and an individual",
      "summary": "Federal Court proceedings; the TGA also alleges the individual is personally liable.",
      "outcome": "Federal Court",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/court-proceedings-initiated-against-montu-group-pty-ltd-alternaleaf-pty-ltd-and-individual-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-12-04",
      "type": "court",
      "party": "CDA Clinics QLD Pty Ltd and its former director",
      "summary": "Federal Court civil penalty proceedings commenced.",
      "outcome": "Federal Court",
      "amount_aud": null,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/court-proceedings-initiated-against-cda-clinics-qld-pty-ltd-and-its-former-director-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-10",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "News Life Media Pty Ltd",
      "summary": "3 notices over a single Body+Soul article promoting cannabis for anxiety and chronic pain — a publisher, not a supplier, fined for one piece of editorial.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 56340,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/news-life-media-fined-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis",
      "date_confidence": "month"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-09-18",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "Naturally Elevated Pty Ltd and an individual",
      "summary": "10 notices — 8 to the company ($132,000) and 2 to an individual ($6,600) — across websites and social media.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 138600,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/naturally-elevated-pty-ltd-and-individual-fined-138600-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2023-07-27",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "Trava Health Pty Ltd and an individual",
      "summary": "8 notices — 5 to the clinic ($82,500) and 3 to an individual ($9,900) — for prohibited and restricted representations on its website and social media.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 92400,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/trava-health-pty-ltd-fined-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-10-31",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "Australian Institute of Medicinal Cannabis Pty Ltd and Biologics Research Institute Australia Pty Ltd",
      "summary": "18 notices — 8 ($106,560) and 10 ($133,200) — including unapproved references to cancer and epilepsy.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 239760,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/two-medicinal-cannabis-clinics-fined-239760-alleged-unlawful-advertising"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-10-31",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "A Western Australian health practitioner",
      "summary": "5 notices over a website and social media, including references to cancer and multiple sclerosis. Being a registered practitioner is not a shield when you advertise to the public.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 13320,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/west-australian-health-practitioner-fined-13320-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022-09-27",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Cannatrek Ltd and Little Green Pharma Ltd",
      "summary": "73 notices — 23 ($306,360), 22 ($293,040) and 28 ($372,960) — to three licensed companies for promoting their own named products, including references to cancer and epilepsy and implied government approval. All three paid.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 972360,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/three-medicinal-cannabis-companies-fined-almost-1-million-alleged-unlawful-advertising"
    },
    {
      "period": "2021-12-22",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "A South Australian individual",
      "summary": "Website advertising of hemp oil products not on the ARTG, with claims covering cancer, autism, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 7992,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/sa-individual-fined-7992-alleged-unlawful-advertising-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2021-12-17",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "Commcare (WA) Pty Ltd (trading as St Francis Pharmacy)",
      "summary": "3 notices for alleged unlawful advertising of medicinal cannabis — a pharmacy, not a clinic or supplier.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 39960,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/commcare-wa-pty-ltd-st-francis-pharmacy-fined-39960-alleged-advertising-breaches-relating-medicinal-cannabis"
    },
    {
      "period": "2021-09-28",
      "type": "infringement",
      "party": "An individual (Invigorate Labs website)",
      "summary": "7 notices over CBD vaping liquid and other CBD products not on the ARTG.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 18648,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/individual-fined-18648-alleged-advertising-breaches-relating-medicinal-cannabis-products"
    },
    {
      "period": "2022–2024",
      "type": "aggregate",
      "party": "Sector-wide",
      "summary": "165 infringement notices and 2 civil penalty proceedings over the two years to 26 June 2024 — more than $2.3 million in penalties for alleged unlawful medicinal cannabis advertising.",
      "outcome": "Infringement notices",
      "amount_aud": 2300000,
      "amount_is_approximate": true,
      "source": "tga.gov.au",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/news/media-releases/more-600000-fines-issued-alleged-unlawful-medicinal-cannabis-advertising"
    },
    {
      "period": "FY2022–23",
      "type": "aggregate",
      "party": "Sector-wide",
      "summary": "TGA annual advertising compliance report: 101 infringement notices worth $1,292,040 over medicinal cannabis, 351 advertisements removed from digital platforms, and 25% of all advertising enquiries the TGA received that year were about medicinal cannabis.",
      "outcome": "Annual report",
      "amount_aud": 1292040,
      "source": "tga.gov.au — annual advertising compliance report",
      "source_url": "https://www.tga.gov.au/products/regulations-all-products/advertising"
    }
  ],
  "citation": "Section 42 Compliance (2026). TGA Medicinal Cannabis Advertising Enforcement Tracker. Retrieved from https://section42.com.au/enforcement-tracker.html",
  "source_url": "https://section42.com.au/enforcement-tracker.html"
}