Mia Freedman's Mamamia and News Corp sued over cannabis ads

Sydney Morning Herald

6 hours ago

Mia Freedman's media company Mamamia and News Corp's magazine division are being sued by the therapeutic goods federal watchdog, accused of unlawfully advertising medicinal cannabis.
The case, brought by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in the Federal Court, alleges Mamamia and the News Corp Australia-owned publisher of Body + Soul magazine ran articles unlawfully promoting medicinal cannabis products from alternative-medicine website and dispensary Atlus in 2022 and 2023 following a marketing campaign.
Mamamia and Body + Soul published articles promoting medicinal cannabis and Atlus, which included endorsements from medical professionals, who are banned from endorsing such products under the TGA's advertising code, the body said.
The TGA referred to quotes from a nurse in Mamamia's article titled '[Name] takes CBD oil daily for her anxiety. Here's what she wants people to know', and a doctor in an article, '5 health conditions you didn't know medical cannabis could help with' published by Body + Soul. The latter also contained a link to the Atlus website, the TGA said.
The Mamamia article was also allegedly written by a person whose mother worked for a company associated with Atlus and was also involved in creating the Atlus' marketing campaign. The article was also posted on Mamamia's Facebook page, which had 1.3 million followers as of June 23, 2025.
AG Therapeutics, which operates online medical cannabis clinic Atlus is at the centre of the case. The company's sole director, Dr Shimal Jobanputra, was a respondent, and facilitated the preparation and approval of the advertising campaign, the TGA said. Jobanputra was previously listed as a general practitioner in a Sunshine Coast clinic.
Atlus used euphemisms such as 'plant medicine' in widespread advertising online and on social media for medicinal cannabis, as well as promoting cannabis' use for serious health conditions, the TGA alleged. Both publications' articles also used terms such as 'medical marijuana', 'cannabinoids', 'plant-based therapies' and 'natural therapies' that 'target the endocannabinoid system'.
'Such claims, known as restricted or prohibited representations, are strictly regulated and generally forbidden in therapeutic goods advertising without explicit TGA approval,' a statement from the regulator said.