Marcus Hale
Regulatory researcher — TGA & access law
Based in Canberra, ACT
Ex policy analyst, now I spend my days reading the Poisons Standard so other people do not have to. I cover how access pathways and scheduling really work. Weekends are for long road rides, vintage survey maps, and a sourdough starter named Trevor.
40 published articles · most recent July 5, 2026
Articles by Marcus Hale
Cannabis Law and Access in TurkeyTurkey's cannabis legal framework is stricter than many assume. Here's how cultivation, medical access, and enforcement actually work under Turkish law.
CBD and Down-Scheduling in AustraliaHow Australia's 2021 CBD down-scheduling actually works, what changed in the Poisons Standard, and why access remains more complicated than headlines suggest.
Cannabis Law and Access in UkraineUkraine legalised medical cannabis in 2022. Here's how the legal framework actually works — the schedules, the access rules, and what's still missing.
Cannabis Law and Access in NetherlandsThe Netherlands runs one of the world's most studied cannabis frameworks — but it is not legalisation. Here is how the gedoogbeleid model actually works.
Importing Medicines: The Personal Importation SchemeAustralia's Personal Importation Scheme lets travellers bring in small quantities of medicines — but the rules for cannabis and controlled drugs are stricter than most people realise.
Cannabis Law and Access in New ZealandNew Zealand's cannabis access framework differs sharply from Australia's. Here's how the Misuse of Drugs Act, medicinal schemes, and the 2020 referendum shaped NZ law.
Cannabis Law and Access in United StatesCannabis law in the United States is a patchwork of federal prohibition and state-level legalisation. Here's how the framework actually works — for Australian readers.
The Office of Drug ControlAustralia's Office of Drug Control sits at the centre of medicinal cannabis licensing. Here's how its mandate, licensing tiers and oversight actually work.
Cannabis Law and Access in PeruPeru legalised medical cannabis in 2017, but the regulatory detail is genuinely complex. Here's how the framework actually works — and what it means for AU readers.
Cannabis Law and Access in Costa RicaCosta Rica's cannabis laws sit in a genuinely unusual place. Here's how the legal framework actually works — and what it means for Australian readers.
Cannabis Law and Access in GeorgiaGeorgia's cannabis laws are unlike almost anywhere else. Here's how the country's unusual legal framework actually works — and what it means in practice.
Cannabis Law and Access in LebanonLebanon legalised cannabis cultivation in 2020, but personal use remains illegal. Here's how the framework actually works — and what it means for AU readers.
Cannabis Law and Access in IsraelIsrael's cannabis legal framework is one of the world's most studied. Here's how the access system actually works — and what Australian readers should know.
Cannabis Law and Access in CzechiaCzechia has one of Europe's most distinct cannabis legal frameworks. Here's how it actually works — and what Australian readers should know about the differences.
Cannabis Law and Access in CyprusCyprus has legalised medical cannabis and decriminalised personal use — but the detail matters. Here's how the framework actually works, for AU readers curious about global comparisons.
Medicinal vs Recreational: The Legal DistinctionAustralia draws a hard legal line between medicinal and recreational cannabis. Here's how the scheduling framework actually works — and why the distinction matters.
Driving Laws and Prescribed Cannabis: VictoriaPrescribed cannabis is legal in Victoria — but driving with detectable THC is not. Here's how the road rules actually work for patients.
Cannabis Law and Access in JapanJapan's cannabis laws are among the strictest in the world — and a 2023 reform changed more than most people realise. Here's what the framework actually says.
Cannabis Law and Access in FinlandFinland's cannabis framework is stricter than most people expect. Here's how the law actually works — and what it means for Australian readers watching global access evolve.
Cannabis Law and Access in MoroccoMorocco is the world's largest cannabis resin producer — yet personal use remained a criminal offence until a landmark 2021 law. Here's how the legal framework actually works.
Cannabis Law and Access in VietnamVietnam maintains a strict prohibition on cannabis — no medical exemptions, no regulated access. Here's how the legal framework actually works.
Cannabis Law and Access in SloveniaSlovenia sits at an interesting crossroads in European cannabis law — here's how the country's framework actually works, from industrial hemp to prescription access.
Reporting Adverse Events to the TGAAdverse event reporting is a legal obligation under TGA law — here's how the system works for cannabis medicines in Australia, and why it matters.
Cannabis Law and Access in PolandPoland's medical cannabis framework has changed significantly since 2017. Here's how the law actually works — and what it means for Australian readers.
Schedule 4 vs Schedule 8: What They MeanSchedule 4 and Schedule 8 sit at the heart of Australia's cannabis access framework. Here's what each classification actually means under the Poisons Standard.
The ARTG: Registered vs Unregistered MedicinesThe ARTG splits medicines into registered and unregistered categories — and for cannabis in Australia, that distinction shapes nearly every access pathway available.
Cannabis Law and Access in SingaporeSingapore enforces some of the world's strictest cannabis laws. Here's how the framework actually works — and what Australian travellers need to know.
Driving Laws and Prescribed Cannabis: Western AustraliaPrescribed cannabis and WA driving law don't mix the way some patients expect. Here's how the state's drug-driving rules actually work.
Cannabis Law and Access in ArgentinaArgentina has one of Latin America's more layered cannabis legal frameworks. Here's how it actually works — and what it means for curious Australian readers.
Workplace Drug Testing and Prescribed MedicinesPrescribed cannabis is a Schedule 8 controlled drug in Australia. Here's what that means for employees facing workplace drug tests.
Cannabis Law and Access in ParaguayParaguay sits at an unusual crossroads: one of South America's biggest cannabis producers by area, yet with a patchwork legal framework that still criminalises personal use.
Special Access Scheme Category CSAS Category C lets approved suppliers notify the TGA before supplying unapproved medicines. Here's how the pathway actually works, and where it sits in AU cannabis regulation.
Understanding the Special Access Scheme in AustraliaThe Special Access Scheme is a key pathway for accessing unapproved medicines in Australia. Here is how it works and where it fits in the regulatory system.
Special Access Scheme Category BHow the TGA's Special Access Scheme Category B works for unapproved medicines in Australia — the pathway, the paperwork, and what it actually requires.
The Role of the Pharmacist in Unapproved SupplyPharmacists do far more than dispense in the medicinal cannabis supply chain. Here's how AU access law actually positions them — and where the complexity lives.
Cannabis Law and Access in ItalyItaly's cannabis law sits in a curious middle ground — medical access is real, the grey market is vast, and personal use exists in a legal no-man's-land. Here's how it actually works.
Special Access Scheme Category ACategory A of Australia's Special Access Scheme explained — who it covers, how it works, and where it sits in the TGA's regulatory framework for unapproved medicines.
Cannabis Law and Access in ThailandThailand's cannabis laws shifted dramatically after 2022 — but the picture is complicated. Here's what the framework actually looks like, and why it matters for Australian readers.
Cannabis Law and Access in SpainSpain's cannabis legal framework is genuinely unusual — and for Australian readers used to TGA scheduling, it takes some unpacking. Here's how it actually works.
Cannabis Law and Access in United KingdomCannabis law in the UK sits in a genuinely unusual place — legal for some patients, illegal for most people. Here's how the framework actually works.