The government implements Australia-wide uniform drug driving laws to allow for a complete defence to the presence of THC in a driver’s oral fluid or blood when:
Our current drug driving laws have failed to improve road safety and unfairly discriminate against thousands of people by imposing a grossly disproportionate punishment regime against individuals and impeding broader public health outcomes. Patients should not have to choose between medicine or mobility.
Current driving laws, surrounding cannabis, are extremely prohibitive to its use in medical practice. Many patients don’t want to proceed due to risking their licence or their independence. The mere presence of THC, and not any associated impairment, is flatly discriminatory and stigmatises an emerging therapy.
“Penalties for roadside drug testing for cannabis are far more severe than for drivers with a positive random breath test for alcohol. Loss of a driving licence is a very severe penalty for people with serious health problems who require frequent medical care and people living in rural areas.”
“Entoura is supporting the Drive Change campaign as the restrictions on driving whilst taking medicinal cannabis is one of the top two reason why many Australian are not accessing quality medicines that may significantly improve their quality of life. Equalising the state of play with other prescription medications is paramount for increasing access and the resultant positive social impact.”
Tammy Franks was elected in 2010. ‘Driven’ for more than a decade, Tammy has taken-on countless issues and continues to advocate tirelessly for people and the planet. Tammy’s determined work enabled the passage of the SA Industrial Hemp Act 2017 in 2017, and in parallel, her compassionate advocacy for better and more affordable access to medicinal cannabis for patients continues.
Recognising that whilst legal to be prescribed Medicinal Cannabis, the State’s drug driving laws are discriminatory.
“Patients should not have to choose between medicine or mobility.” Tammy is honoured to be associated The Cannabis Law Reform Alliance to #DriveChange
Michael John (Mick) Palmer is a barrister and 33 year career police officer with extensive experience in police leadership and reform in community, national and international policing. In 1994 Mick was appointed Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP). He was also the inaugural Deputy Chair of the National Council against Drugs (NCAD), a position he occupied until retirement in 2001.
Mick is currently a spokesperson for the Ted Noffs Foundation’s Take control Campaign, for Safer, Saner Drug Laws, a Director Emeritus of Australia 21 and an Ambassador for SMART Recovery.
Lucy is a retired nurse, mother and grandmother, who is known for being the lynchpin in the legalisation of medical cannabis in Australia. Lucy founded non-profit United in Compassion in 2014 and is both a patient advocate and educator and does this in Dan’s memory.
In 2020 Lucy became a co-founder and chair of the Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association and founded the Australian Chapter of The Society of Cannabis Clinicians. Lucy strives to keep the emerging industry patient centric and morally grounded.
Fiona Patten has been a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for the Northern Metropolitan region since 2014. Fiona is Leader of the Reason Party, described as a future-focused, evidence-based movement committed to delivering equality, sustainability and freedom through new methods of political engagement and pragmatic consultation.
In October 2020, after a 5 year battle, Fiona’s proposal to change driving laws for cannabis patients was slated for approval. Victoria will be the first state to change the medical cannabis and driving laws.
