Australia's Green Horizon: A Comprehensive Guide to Cannabis Events, Tradeshows & Conferences from May 2025

The Evolving Landscape of Australian Cannabis Events

The Australian cannabis industry is navigating a period of dynamic growth and transformation, particularly evident in its medicinal sector. Projections indicate a substantial expansion, with the medical cannabis market alone anticipated to reach values such as $USD 850.5 million by 2034 or even $USD 1,373.1 million by 2033. This upward trajectory is supported by increasing legal acceptance and growing patient access, which has seen medicinal cannabis prescriptions surpass 2.2 million since legalization. In this burgeoning market, industry events—conferences, tradeshows, and symposia—play a pivotal role. They serve as crucial platforms for fostering connections, disseminating cutting-edge knowledge, showcasing innovation, and contributing to the ongoing dialogue that shapes policy and practice. As the Australian cannabis sector continues to flourish, the value of connecting, learning, and showcasing innovation at industry events has never been higher. For businesses looking to make a lasting impression at these gatherings, companies like MunchMakers offer fantastic custom merchandise solutions, perfect for elevating brand presence at cannabis events, tradeshows, and conferences, ensuring your brand stands out in a competitive market.

The increasing number and specialization of cannabis events across Australia are indicative of an industry advancing beyond its initial stages into more defined and sophisticated segments, including medicinal applications, dedicated research, industrial hemp, and focused advocacy efforts. This maturation is further evidenced by the development of an ancillary market specifically supporting these events, highlighting their growing economic significance and professionalization. This article serves as an essential guide for stakeholders aiming to navigate and participate in key Australian cannabis events scheduled from May 28, 2025, onwards, providing insights into what to expect and how to engage effectively.

Upcoming Australian Cannabis Events (May 2025 Onwards): At a Glance

Note: Event details, especially for 2026, are subject to change. Always consult official event websites for the latest information. The ICPP/ICMPS/ICPPS listings represent multiple distinct events often organized by different academic bodies under the ConferenceIndex portal; cannabis may be one of many topics.

Understanding the Green: Australia's Cannabis Industry & Regulatory Climate (Mid-2025 Snapshot)

As of mid-2025, Australia's cannabis industry continues its complex evolution, primarily driven by a robust medicinal sector but with ongoing discussions around broader access and industrial applications. Understanding this regulatory and market context is crucial for anyone engaging with the industry or attending its events.

Medicinal Cannabis Regulation

Medicinal cannabis has been legal in Australia since 2016, accessible to patients with a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) oversees this access, primarily through two pathways: the Special Access Scheme (SAS) and the Authorised Prescriber (AP) scheme. The SAS allows practitioners to prescribe medicinal cannabis products not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) to specific patients, while the AP scheme allows authorized doctors to prescribe specific medicinal cannabis products to a class of patients with a particular medical condition without needing separate approval for each patient. The Office of Drug Control (ODC) plays a critical role by regulating and issuing licences for the cultivation, production (harvest), manufacture, import, and export of medicinal cannabis, ensuring compliance with international drug conventions. This dual regulatory oversight by the TGA and ODC aims to provide legitimate access while controlling supply and preventing diversion.

The Hemp Industry

Parallel to medicinal cannabis, Australia has a developing industrial hemp sector. Industrial hemp, defined by its low Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content (typically below 1%), is cultivated for its seeds (for food), fibres (for textiles, building materials), and other non-psychoactive components. The regulation of hemp cultivation and processing also involves state and federal bodies, with a focus on ensuring THC levels remain within legal limits. Events like the Hemp Field Day hosted by Hemp Farms Australia, which showcased their new fibre-focused varietal "Wongarra" in early 2025, demonstrate ongoing innovation and interest in expanding the applications of hemp, particularly in sustainable industries. While such field days may be company-specific, they reflect broader industry activity and the push to develop robust supply chains for various hemp-derived products.

Recreational Cannabis Status

Recreational cannabis use remains illegal at the federal level in Australia. However, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has taken a distinct path, decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use and allowing individuals to cultivate up to two plants per person (with a maximum of four per household) since 2020. This model prohibits the use of hydroponics or artificial lighting for personal cultivation and does not