Medicinal cannabis driving ban under review in Queensland

Queensland residents taking medicinal cannabis could soon be allowed to get behind the wheel as politicians consider a major change to drug driving laws.

The state government will review its drug driving laws that could allow drivers with a prescription back onto the road.

It is currently illegal for residents to drive a vehicle if they have taken marijuana, or any other illicit drug, even if they have a medical certificate from their doctor.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will review the laws amid an uptick in the number of drivers testing positive for THC during random roadside drug tests.

The Greens have previously pushed for medicinal cannabis users to be allowed to drive on the roads in the state. 

TMR’s general manager for land transport, safety and regulation, Andrew Mahon, said the use of medicinal cannabis while driving was a ‘complex’ issue.

‘The review is in response to the growing number of drug driving offences being detected on Queensland’s roads and an increase in crashes resulting in serious injuries and lives lost,’ he said.

‘Medicinal cannabis and the issues presented, such as impacts on enforcement through roadside drug testing and those wanting to continue to drive, will be investigated as part of this review.’

In May, the first in-depth study of Australia’s medicinal cannabis program revealed use of the drug has increased drastically across the country.

Some 248,000 prescriptions have been approved over the last five years, with 85 per cent given out since January 2020.

The University of Sydney released a study on Monday revealing prescriptions rose from 2.5 per cent in 2018 to 37 per cent in 2022.

Lead researcher Professor Nicholas Lintzeris said it indicated more people were trying to obtain the drug legally rather than rely on their local dealer.

‘A number of benefits were identified in moving to prescribed products, particularly where consumers reported safer ways of using medical cannabis,’ he said.

‘People using illicit cannabis were more likely to smoke their cannabis, compared to people using prescribed products who were more likely to use oral products or vaporised cannabis, highlighting a health benefit of using prescribed products.’ 

The drug has been used to treat more than 140 different medical conditions with pain, anxiety and sleep apnea the main disorders treated.

The review of Queensland’s drug driving law is expected to be carried out by the end of 2023.

Tasmania has laws allowing residents with detectable levels of THC in their system to drive as long as the drug has been obtained and administered lawfully.

Drivers still run the risk of being fined if THC is found in their saliva or blood and determined by police to be impacting their driving.