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

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.

Medicinal cannabis is big business. Credit: Janie Barrett

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.

A screenshot from Atlus’ website, appearing to show an AI-generated image of a doctor.Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald

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.

Mia Freedman’s Mamamia has a combined online following of several million.Credit: Cybele Malinowski

Online, Atlus promotes consultations for treatment and wellness plans, using natural remedies.

Straight Up, a health and wellness public relations firm based in Paddington, Sydney, is also named as a respondent alongside Atlus, Mamamia, News Life Media and Jobanputra, seeking declarations and penalties.

In Australia, it is against the law to advertise prescription medicines, such as cannabis, directly to the public or publish testimonials and endorsements from certain people, such as doctors and nurses. (This is why US-style pharmaceutical ads for prescription drugs are not shown on Australian television or online).

It is also against the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 for advertisements to include what the TGA calls “prohibited representations”, which include the treatment, cure, prevention and diagnosis of cancer, sexually transmitted disease, HIV, hepatitis C and mental illness.

Advertisements for therapeutic goods can’t include “restricted representations” – which are serious forms of diseases or conditions that require management by a health professional – without the TGA approval.

Atlus, Mamamia and News Life had been warned over the alleged breaches on multiple occasions, said Professor Anthony Lawler, deputy secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, as well as head of the TGA.

“Advertising prescription medicines to the public can create an inappropriate demand for these medicines and undermine the relationship between a patient and their treating health practitioner. Appropriate treatment options should be determined by a health professional in consultation with their patient,” Lawler said.

“We continue to take enforcement action against the alleged unlawful import, export, supply, manufacture and advertising of therapeutic goods, including medicinal cannabis products.”

A spokesman for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the medico watchdog, said the agency was aware of the TGA announcement. “As these matters are before the courts, we cannot make any further comment,” the spokesman said.

Mick Carroll, editor-in-chief of News Corp’s Free News and Lifestyle division was contacted for comment, alongside Mamamia, Straight Up and Atlus.

This masthead attempted to contact Jobanputra via clinics linked to the GP online. The phone line for one clinic linked to Jobanputra was disconnected, and a receptionist at a second practice said no doctor by that name was employed there.

Body + Soul has several hundreds of thousands of online followers, while Mamamia has a combined online following of several million. It was founded in 2007 by Freedman, a media personality and former magazine editor, initially as a blog. It employs nearly 500 people, according to LinkedIn.

Freedman hosts Mamamia Out Loud, Australia’s fourth most popular podcast, according to the most recent figures from ratings agency Triton Digital.

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