Cannabis law in Australia (2026)
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
In short: Cannabis possession, growing and use are governed mainly by state and territory law, so there is no single national position. Medicinal cannabis is available nationally through the Therapeutic Goods Administration's Special Access Scheme, Authorised Prescriber scheme and clinical trials.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Possession for personal usePersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Quantity limitsPersonal use by an adult | There is no single national rule. Possession, cultivation and use of cannabis are mostly governed by state and territory law, and those laws differ. [1] |
| Growing at homePersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Sale to consumersPersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Use or carrying in public placesPersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Medical cannabisPersonal use by an adult | Legal for medical use [2] |
| VisitorsPersonal use by an adult | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- Varies by state and territory, so no national value is given. State and territory legislation was not read.
- Federal law covers medicinal access and borders; the law on personal possession is mostly state and territory law. The state and territory rules were not read.
- Set by state and territory law and not read, so no national value is given.
- Most medicinal cannabis products are unapproved therapeutic goods and are supplied on prescription under TGA pathways. TGA approval does not replace state and territory requirements for lawful supply.
- Not confirmed from a readable official page; state and territory laws were not read.
Sources
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Drug laws in Australia (Internet Archive snapshot of 10 October 2026) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA): Medicinal cannabis (Internet Archive snapshot of 4 October 2026) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
Australia: rules by state or province
| Country | Possession for personal use | Growing at home | Sale to consumers | Use or carrying in public places | Medical cannabis | Visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Criminal offence | Banned | Sale and supply are offences | Use is an offence | Legal on prescription | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Victoria | Criminal offence; small amounts max 5 penalty units | Banned | Sale is trafficking, an offence | Use is an offence | Legal on prescription | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Queensland | Criminal offence | Banned | Supply and trafficking are offences | Use is an offence | Legal on prescription | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Western Australia | Offence; 10 g or less may get an intervention notice | Banned | Sale and supply are offences | Use is an offence | Legal on prescription | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| South Australia | Offence; usually an expiation notice (fine) | Banned; small numbers expiable | Sale and supply are offences | Use is an offence; public use not expiable | Legal on prescription | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Tasmania | Criminal offence | Banned | Sale and supply are offences | Use is an offence | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Australian Capital Territory | Legal for adults 18+ within the limit | Yes, 2 plants per adult, 4 per home | Sale and supply are offences | Smoking banned in public places | Legal on prescription | Applies to anyone 18+ in the ACT |
| Northern Territory | Offence; up to 50 g may get an infringement notice | Banned; up to 2 plants may get a notice | Supply is an offence | Use is an offence | Legal on prescription | ⚠ Not yet verified |
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.