Legalise Cannabis Victoria’s bid to reform the state’s drug-driving laws has received a major boost after Premier Daniel Andrews signalled his support for the measure.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Andrews said the issue was a government priority.
“In terms of drug-law reform, the issue that I’m… focused on is those Victorians – and there can be as many as 200,000 – who are currently using medicinal cannabis with a script from a doctor and they cannot drive,” he said.
“That’s an issue that’s bedevilled us. We need to find a way through that.”
Last month, Legalise Cannabis Victoria (LCV) introduced a bill which would see prescribed medicinal cannabis that does not impair driving treated the same way as other prescription drugs. It is scheduled for debate next week (Wednesday March 8).
Andrews said patients should not be prevented from seeking relief from pain or other symptoms for fear of losing their driving licence.
“I don’t want them to feel they can’t access that care because we don’t have [updated] drug-driving laws and we don’t have a test… for impairment,” he said.
“You’re either positive [to THC] or negative. It’s a binary thing when you may not be impaired at all. So we’re working through that.”
LCV MP David Ettershank welcomed the premier’s comments.
“Legalise Cannabis Victoria is currently having discussions with a number of government ministers about this and other questions,” he told The Age.