The laws around medicinal cannabis have not kept pace with the science and reflect a historic view of the substance an its use. It is time for laws which treat those using medicinal cannabis to improve their quality of life in a fair manner whilst also maintaining road safety. The two aims are not mutually exclusive.
Patients who are are legally prescribed and properly using these medications are not impaired, yet they cannot drive, it’s absurd. THC of course can cause impairment, but it can also be used in small amounts effectively without impairment.
The current driving law is a major barrier preventing many doctors from incorporating medical cannabis into their practice and has nothing to do with impairment, randomly testing medical cannabis patients just confirms they are taking their medications.
As the number of registered medical cannabis patients in Australia continues to grow, there is a pressing need to look critically at the current approach to cannabis and driving.
There is a very good body of evidence showing that levels of THC in the body do not correspond well to a person’s level of impairment, the amount of cannabis consumed or the time when it was consumed. This raises serious concerns around the suitability of the current random drug testing approach for patients who are using prescribed medical cannabis.
Personal narratives are powerful instruments of change. As an advocate for patients and now a patient myself, I’ve driven more than my fair share of country miles.
To enable medicinal cannabis patients to have equal driving rights in the eyes of the law, I invite you to share your story that will help us to #DriveChange