From today, Victorian medicinal cannabis users will no longer automatically lose their licence if they test positive for THC in a roadside drug test.
Instead, drivers can appear in court and present their prescription, allowing magistrates to use discretion in their sentencing.
Previously, even trace amounts of THC resulted in a six-month licence suspension for a first offence, with no room for appeal.
Legalise Cannabis Victoria MP David Ettershank called the law change a “victory for common sense,” noting that medicinal cannabis patients had been living in fear of losing their licences despite not driving impaired.
THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, can remain in a person’s system for days after consumption, even after its impairing effects have worn off.
Fellow MP Rachel Payne, who is prescribed medicinal cannabis, welcomed the reform, emphasizing that responsible patients should not face automatic penalties for trace amounts in their system.
The Victorian government has also allocated $4.9 million for Swinburne University to study the effects of medicinal cannabis on driving performance.
Researchers will assess speed, control, braking, and response to distractions, with findings expected later this year.
