Thursday, 30 May 2024

Medicinal cannabis

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (18:00): (940) My adjournment is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. We know that thousands of Victorians rely on medicinal cannabis to live functional lives. We also know that Victoria’s manifestly unjust driving laws mean they must choose between taking their life-giving medication or driving, between taking their doctor’s advice or breaking the law. The former Premier Daniel Andrews was very aware of this back in February 2023 when he stated that allowing unimpaired Victorians to drive after taking medicinal cannabis was a ‘significant priority’ for his government – a significant priority. He did not want anyone to avoid alleviating pain or other symptoms because they were too scared to take what had been prescribed to them because we do not have updated drug driving laws. We were assured that this would be resolved in coming months.

Then in October 2023 there was the announcement of a world-leading trial on the effects of medicinal cannabis on drivers. With all the research and trials previously undertaken, coupled with this being a significant priority for the government, we were assured that this would be wrapped up by Christmas 2024. Reform was imminent. So you can imagine the shock, the sense of utter betrayal felt by medicinal cannabis patients on hearing that this trial will now not be completed until at best mid-2026, effectively meaning no change before the next state election. Medicinal cannabis patients have been waiting for eight years for this government to reform the drug driving laws and now must endure another three years of legal limbo. Where is the bold, progressive Labor government that led the way in 2016 by legalising medicinal cannabis? They seem to have lost their bottle, because this decision reeks of pure cowardice.

Let us be clear: the current laws are unjust and discriminatory. Unimpaired drivers on prescription medication who follow the directions of their doctor should be allowed to drive. It is how we treat every other prescribed medicine except for medicinal cannabis. It is not based on evidence, science or any harm reduction measures. It is arbitrary, and it is discriminatory. The government cannot simply kick the can down the road. I call on the minister to shorten the timelines so that this trial can be completed promptly, with meaningful reform introduced in the next year.