The emergence of upmarket medicinal cannabis clinics has some health professionals concerned that the growing trend of one-stop shops could be targeting the vulnerable while operators say they are improving patient access. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) figures show that more than a million Australians have accessed medicinal cannabis since 2016 when the drug was legalised, with the vast majority of the uptake in the past 18 months.
To cater for the booming billion-dollar market, various clinics that offer both prescription and dispensing services under the one roof have been popping up.
Those found on the Gold Coast often resemble sleek day spas and are positioned in tourist hotspots.
Pharmacist Kishan Patel, who co-owns clinics in Coolangatta and Robina with another opening in Logan in January, said the contrast to the once hippy vibe of cannabis was a deliberate choice.
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