Between 22 June and 19 July 2026, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing sought feedback on proposed remaking of the Narcotic Drugs Regulation 2016 and the Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Regulation 2016 (legislative instruments), which are scheduled to sunset on 1 April 2027. 

The purpose of this consultation was to engage with stakeholders to determine if the current regulations are effectively fulfilling their intended purpose before they are remade. Only necessary changes arising from the consultation would be considered as part of the remaking process.

We received 28 submissions from 27 stakeholders. Feedback from the consultation generated valuable feedback on a range of regulatory, policy and operational matters. The submissions raised a broad range of issues about the operation of the medicinal cannabis regulatory framework.

Of these submissions 15 were from Individuals, 8 from Current licence holders/applicants under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967, and 5 were from Organisations/Companies or Businesses (this category included peak bodies). Current licence holders/applicants raised the broadest range of topics including:

• the cost-recovery framework; 
• information requirements for a new medicinal cannabis licence and permit application;
• processing timeframes; and
• calls for a risk-based notification process.

Organisations/Companies or Businesses were smaller in response numbers but raised issues clustered around guidance, cost recovery and fees, and licence and permit application and variation requirements. Processing timeframes, service standards and risk-based notification were raised by peak bodies.

Individuals were most concentrated on patient access and personal cultivation, followed by the cost of medicinal cannabis for patients.

Outcome of the consultation

We appreciate the time and effort stakeholders put into their submissions. We have heard the feedback, including issues that go beyond the scope of remaking the sunsetting legislative instruments.

We have analysed the feedback received through the consultation. Many issues raised are complex and extend beyond the sunsetting instruments to primary legislation and regulatory practice. We do not intend to make changes beyond minor or necessary amendments required to remake the legislative instruments at this stage.

How feedback will be considered

Feedback received through this consultation that were outside of the scope of the remaking process will inform future policy consideration, together with feedback gathered through other stakeholder engagement.

Next steps

The immediate priority is to remake the legislative instruments before they expire, ensuring continuity of the regulatory framework. More significant regulatory amendments, changes to primary legislation, or policy and operational settings would require detailed policy analysis, further stakeholder consultation and government consideration. This policy and reform work would be considered separately, subject to government priorities, available resourcing and timeframes beyond the current sunsetting process.