Medicinal cannabis
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:12): (283) My question is for the Minister for Police, represented by Minister Erdogan. I have received alarming reports of drug detection dogs being used by police randomly on members of the public at Croydon station, Oakleigh station and Frankston station over this past month. Not only does this kind of police work contribute to the over-criminalisation of medicinal cannabis patients, it also stifles their right to freedom of movement via accessible, safe and reliable public transport. Medicinal cannabis patients already fear driving, and now they will fear police scrutiny when accessing our public transport system. My question is: how are police ensuring that operations like these do not unfairly interfere with medicinal cannabis patients’ right not to be criminalised?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:13): I thank Ms Payne for her question and her interest in this matter. In line with the standing orders, I will take that question on notice and get a written response from the police minister in the other place.
Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:13): I thank the minister for the referral. By way of supplementary, I ask the minister: what training do police receive on medicinal cannabis to guide them for interactions with patients during these operations?
Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice, Minister for Victim Support) (12:13): I thank Ms Payne for her supplementary question and her further interest in this matter. I will forward that to the Minister for Police in the other place and get a response in accordance with the standing orders.