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Medicinal cannabis users to be hit by Australia's proposed zero-tolerance drug driving laws

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Queensland, Australia, is proposing stricter drug driving laws with a "zero-tolerance" approach, increasing penalties for drivers with drugs in their system.
  • Advocates warn the changes will unfairly penalize medicinal cannabis users who take their prescriptions as directed.
  • The government states the laws are evidence-based to combat rising road trauma, while critics suggest alternative impairment assessments.

New drug driving laws proposed by the Queensland government are facing criticism from advocates who say they will disproportionately affect individuals using medicinal cannabis. The legislation, set to take effect in December, aims for a "zero-tolerance" approach, significantly increasing penalties for drivers found with any amount of certain drugs in their system, including THC.

They face fines, losing their licence and aggravated penalties, simply for taking their medication as directed.

— Martin MilneThe Alcohol and Drug Foundation's state manager on the impact of the proposed laws on medicinal cannabis users.

Martin Milne, Queensland manager for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), expressed concern that the laws would lead to fines, license suspensions, and aggravated penalties for patients simply taking their prescribed medication. He highlighted that current roadside tests detect THC presence but not impairment, and THC can remain detectable for up to three days after use, potentially penalizing drivers long after any psychoactive effects have worn off.

the simple fact is that it was not safe to drive while affected by tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC.

— Brent MickelbergQueensland's Transport Minister explaining the rationale behind the zero-tolerance approach.

Milne noted that Queensland has a large medicinal cannabis patient population and urged the government to consider alternative methods for assessing impairment, such as enhanced field sobriety testing and THC saliva thresholds. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between genuinely impaired drivers and those responsibly using prescribed medicine.

THC can remain detectable in saliva for up to three days after use.

— Martin MilneExplaining the limitations of current drug testing methods.

However, Queensland's Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg defended the proposed changes, calling them an evidence-based response to increasing road trauma. He stated that it is "not safe to drive" under the influence of THC, citing that over 60% of drug driving fatalities involve THC. RACQ general manager for advocacy Joshua Cooney also supported stricter measures, emphasizing the need to prevent impaired driving regardless of whether the substance is illicit or prescribed, due to the high rate of road fatalities.

As access continues to grow, it is important that road safety laws distinguish between drivers who present a genuine safety risk and those who are using a prescribed medicine responsibly and are not impaired.

— Martin MilneA recommendation for differentiating between impaired drivers and medicinal users.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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