The NSW government has rejected every recommendation made by a parliamentary inquiry into the state’s cannabis regulatory framework, but flagged some issues – including drug driving – may be revisited in its response to last year’s Drug Summit.
In its final report tabled in June, the premier and finance committee called for sweeping reform, including decriminalisation of personal use and possession and a medical defence to drug-driving charges.
The committee also called for greater support for local cultivation and manufacturing to reduce the reliance on imports.
However, in its formal response, the government said it did not accept the recommendations.
While noting the call to cut imports and boost domestic production, the government said regulation of medicinal cannabis remained a matter for the Commonwealth.
It pointed to the Office of Drug Control’s (ODC) responsibility for imports, licensing and permits, and said Canberra was best placed to consider industry support.
On criminal law reform, the government flatly rejected recommendations to decriminalise or legalise cannabis in NSW, declaring it had “no intention” of doing so.
It said the state’s cannabis cautioning scheme already provided an alternative to criminal charges for minor possession offences, and noted eligibility had been expanded in 2024.
The government’s response also deferred recommendations to implement 11 reform measures first outlined in the committee’s 2024 preliminary report.
The government said those issues, including a medical defence for drug-driving along with other matters of drug policy, would instead be considered as part of its response to the NSW Drug Summit, due later this year.
The summit, held in 2024, canvassed a wide range of issues including many raised by the committee, but the government has yet to publish its conclusions on 56 recommendations.
The drug-driving laws in particular have become a flashpoint in NSW with legal, medical and patient advocates labelling them unjust and unscientific, warning they force patients back to opioids and other riskier medications.
The issue is expected to be addressed as part of the government’s Drug Summit response.