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Medical Cannabis in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Disha Kartik Jeswanth Disha Kartik Jeswanth Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: March 2024 ANZSIC OD5663 Spotlight Report

Revenue

$350.0m

2024-25

$550.0m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

1,511

Businesses

46

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Medical Cannabis in Australia industry analysis

Australia’s Medical Cannabis industry has experienced soaring growth and regulatory evolution since cannabis cultivation was legalised for medical purposes in 2016. Despite challenges relating to strict regulations and advertising restrictions, industry manufacturers have thrived, buoyed by societal shifts towards health and wellness. Industry revenue is expected to skyrocket at an annualised 112.4% over the five years through 2023-24. This includes an anticipated jump of 62.0% in 2023-24 to total $350.0 million, while profit margins remain negative at -63.5%.

Trends and Insights

  • The Medical Cannabis industry has grown more than two-fold over recent years. Several factors, including increased awareness about cannabis, fading stigmatisation, improved technology and ease of access to medication, have enabled this strong growth.
  • THC medicines are the largest product segment. These products are used to treat conditions like glaucoma, muscle spasticity, low appetite and sleep disorders.
  • Medical cannabis manufacturing has high barriers to entry due to its strict regulatory environment. Potential entrants must ensure they abide by all regulations and quality standards pertaining to Australian medicinal cannabis products.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
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Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 112.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $350.0m in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Medical cannabis is an emerging industry beset with strict regulation

  • In February 2016, the Australian Parliament legislated the legal cultivation and production of cannabis products for medical purposes via the Narcotic Drugs Amendment Bill 2016.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Medical Cannabis in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Existing manufacturers will gain economies of scale as they become more settled

  • Participation in the Medical Cannabis industry is set to continue climbing, but at a slower rate compared with recent years.

Biggest companies in the Medical Cannabis in Australia

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Medical Cannabis in Australia industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Medical Cannabis in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including CBD medicines, Medicines containing both CBD and THC and THC medicines. CBD medicines is the largest segment of the Medical Cannabis in Australia.

Trends and Insights

THC medicines are the most popular type of medicinal cannabis prescribed

  • A tetrahydrocannabinol drug, classified as a Schedule 8 Controlled Drug as per the Poisons Standard, contains cannabinoids mainly found in cannabis, constituting over 98% of the total cannabinoid content, with cannabidiol making up less than 2% and no other active ingredients present.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Medical Cannabis industry includes all firms licenced by the Office of Drug Control, a division of the Australian Government Department of Health, to manufacture cannabis products for medical purposes.

What's included in this industry?

CBD medicinesMedicines containing both CBD and THCTHC medicines

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CANNABIS OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) OUT-OF-POCKET TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL (THC)CANNABIDIOL (CBD)

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 1841 - Medical Cannabis in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Medical Cannabis industry has grown more than two-fold over recent years. Several factors, including increased awareness about cannabis, fading stigmatisation, improved t...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

THC medicines are the largest product segment. These products are used to treat conditions like glaucoma, muscle spasticity, low appetite and sleep disorders.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Medical cannabis manufacturing has high barriers to entry due to its strict regulatory environment. Potential entrants must ensure they abide by all regulations and quality s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The TGA highly regulates the Medical Cannabis industry. Only two cannabis products are listed as approved medicines. The TGA has not assessed the rest for safety or effective...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The Medical Cannabis industry has clocked significant losses, as is common for a new industry in an early growth phase. Despite still recording a loss, profit margins are imp...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia is $350.0m in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Medical Cannabis in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 46 businesses in the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 30.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 112.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What does the Medical Cannabis in Australia include?

CBD medicines and Medicines containing both CBD and THC are part of the Medical Cannabis industry.

How competitive is the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Medical Cannabis industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Pharmaceutical Product Manufacturing in Australia
  • Health and Wellness Spas in Australia

Complementors

  • Medical and Scientific Equipment Wholesaling in Australia
  • Health Services in Australia

International industries

  • Global Pharmaceuticals & Medicine Manufacturing
  • Medical & Recreational Marijuana Growing in the US
  • Medical Marijuana Dispensaries in the US
  • Cannabis Production in Canada

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.