The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2017 will come into force on 7 September 2017, relaxing the rules on importation and supply of products which contain cannabidiol.

Most of the amendments apply in respect of products which contain cannabidiol but do not contain, or contain only small quantities of, other cannabinoids usually found in cannabis (CBD products).

The amendments allow a medical practitioner, a person who holds a licence to operate a pharmacy under the Medicines Act 1981, or a person who holds a licence to deal in controlled drugs under the Act to import a CBD product without a licence to import the product and to possess and supply that CBD product.

They also allow CBD products to be supplied, administered, or prescribed without the approval of the Minister of Health, and except CBD products from the storage requirements that apply to other controlled drugs.

Prescriptions for CBD products will be excepted from the requirement to be on an approved form that applies to prescriptions for other controlled drugs.

CBD products will be allowed to be prescribed in a quantity sufficient for use for a period of 3 months, and will also be excepted from the requirements of Part 6 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1977, which relate to record keeping and returns.

The regulations also except certain other products that contain cannabidiol but are not CBD products from the storage requirements that apply to other controlled drugs if the products are in the possession of a person who holds a licence to operate a pharmacy under the Medicines Act 1981.