Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman has called for reform of Queensland’s drug-driving laws to allow medicinal cannabis users to drive as long as there is no evidence of impairment.

Michael Berkman

The call comes after new figures showed there were more than 18,000 positive roadside drug tests for THC in the state between 2019 and 2021.

Berkman said there was no evidence that trace amounts of THC could cause impairment.

“But there is lots of evidence that spurious drug-driving charges can cause financial and personal ruin,” he added.

“Medicinal cannabis is legal and it can be transformative for patients suffering chronic pain or undergoing chemotherapy, but those patients should not need to give up their licence.”

However, his call is likely to fall on deaf ears. Asked if the government would consider changes to the state’s drug-driving laws, transport minister Mark Bailey said: “We have a zero-tolerance for drug driving in Queensland.”

Prior to launching Cannabiz, Martin was co-founder and CEO of Asia-Pac’s leading B2B media and marketing information brand Mumbrella, overseeing its sale to Diversified Communications in 2017. A journalist...

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