The TGA issued $1.3 million in fines for illegal medicinal cannabis advertising last financial year, with six different companies and one individual health practitioner coming under scrutiny.

The watchdog now says illegal advertising of medicinal cannabis is a priority target for 2023/24, alongside MDMA, psilocybin and vaping ads.  

While doctors have prescribed medicinal cannabis to more than a million patients since 2016 through the Special Access Scheme, advertising to the public remains illegal. 

The TGA said the individual health practitioner from WA, who was not identified, paid $13,320 in fines in response to five infringement notices last year.