Manufacturing medical cannabis is a highly regulated procedure in Australia. Production companies must adhere to a number of laws and standards that control the cultivation and distribution of quality cannabis products. From employing different techniques to cultivate cannabis strains to factoring in the cost of production, medical cannabis manufacturing is an intricate process. These stringent production protocols help ensure that medicinal cannabis products are held to high safety and quality standards.
Legality
In Australia, the production of medical cannabis is strictly regulated by comprehensive legal frameworks governed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The cultivation and manufacturing of medical cannabis involves meticulous licensing processes to ensure compliance with national standards and guidelines. Under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967, entities seeking to engage in the production of medical cannabis must obtain necessary permits from the Office of Drug Control (ODC). These permits outline the activities permitted, encompassing cultivation, production, and research endeavours. Stringent security measures and record-keeping protocols are mandatory components of these permits to prevent unauthorised access and to track the movement of cannabis throughout the supply chain. The TGA has also established Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. These standards mandate the implementation of quality control measures, ensuring that medical cannabis products meet the highest standards for efficacy and consistency. Compliance with these legal frameworks is paramount for anyone involved in the production of medical cannabis.
Learn more about the legality of medical cannabis production.

Aspects
Cultivators will employ advanced production techniques, including controlled environments with optimised lighting, humidity, and exact nutrient management. Cultivation begins with the selection of specific cannabis strains, genetic lineage, cannabinoid content, characteristics and yield requirements. The cultivation process is followed by harvesting, where precise timing is crucial to ensure optimal cannabinoid levels. Post-harvest processing can involve drying, testing, bucking, burping and trimming for flower cultivation, compared to the drying, curing and extraction process to obtain the desired compounds for medical use.
Extraction methods, such as CO2 extraction, are commonly employed to produce medical cannabis oils while maintaining their purity. All medical cannabis licensed cultivation facilities in Australia need to have their products tested for potency, contaminants, and quality at various stages throughout the process. Following successful testing, manufacturers utilise the raw materials to create pharmaceutical-grade products. These products then undergo further testing before reaching out to distribution centres. Pharmacies and healthcare providers form the last part of the supply chain, ensuring that medical cannabis products are accessible to those with a prescription.
Learn more about the various aspects of medical cannabis production.
Product Types
The manufacture of different medical cannabis product types varies slightly. Aside from the cultivation of different cannabis strains, cultivators can precisely time harvesting to ensure optimal levels of cannabinoids for specific products. Products like oils and tinctures offer more controlled doses of cannabis, whereas topicals, like creams and patches, are believed to aid in targeted relief.
Read more information on the manufacturing of different product types.
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Strains
Cultivators may use different production techniques to manufacture certain strains of medical cannabis. Techniques can be adjusted for the optimal growth and development of specific strains. Strains are chosen carefully as cultivators consider the genetic background of a plant, how long it takes to harvest, its potential yield along with other important factors like the various cannabinoid and terpene content.
Cultivators process each strain carefully, controlling environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels. These considerations are crucial to cultivating plants that yield the desired cannabinoid profile. Post-harvest processing is tailored to the individual chemical compositions of each strain, ensuring the final medical cannabis product adheres to stringent pharmaceutical standards.
Learn more about producing different cannabis strains.


Cost
Several factors influence the cost of medical cannabis production in Australia. These include adhering to regulatory requirements, GMP standards, and cultivation and extraction processes. Regulatory compliance is a significant driver of production costs. Obtaining approval for medical cannabis products involves a comprehensive process where licensed facilities must receive permits from the TGA and ODC. It can be costly due to the security measures, quality control protocols, and ongoing monitoring involved, which contribute to operational expenses.
Certain cultivation practices may also be more expensive than others. Extraction processes, like those that use advanced methods, require specialised equipment and expertise, further impacting production costs.
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Learn more about the legal landscape surrounding medical cannabis strains in Australia, including regulations governing cultivation, prescription, and usage for therapeutic purposes.
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