The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) and Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) are national drug monitoring systems intended to identify emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug markets, and form part of Drug Trends.
This bulletin examines driving behaviours of people prescribed THC-containing cannabis products among two national samples of people who regularly use illicit drugs in 2025.
Key findings
- Prescribed cannabis use among the EDRS and IDRS samples were uncommon (15% and 7%, respectively)
- Among those who used prescribed cannabis, most contained THC (EDRS: 96%, IDRS: 97%)
- Among those who used prescribed THC containing products and reported recently driving), most reported driving within three hours of consuming prescribed cannabis in the past 6 months (EDRS: 84%, IDRS: 76%)
Discussion
Although prescribed cannabis use was relatively uncommon in these two samples of people who regularly use drugs, most participants who had used THC containing products reported driving within three hours of consumption. Few participants (n<5) reported being detected by roadside drug testing after such use but nevertheless remain at risk of positive roadside drug tests and criminal sanctions. However, these findings are not representative of all people who are prescribed cannabis. In a study of 806 Australian medical cannabis patients, 35% of drivers reported ‘typically’ driving within three hours of consuming cannabis in the past month. Taken together, these results add to calls for a review of the regulatory framework governing prescribed medicinal cannabis and driving in Australia, particularly given the differential treatment of medicinal‑cannabis patients compared with those taking other psychoactive medicines.
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Recommended citation
Uporova J, Peacock, A, Sutherland R. Prescribed cannabis and driving behaviours among two samples of people who regularly use illicit drugs, 2025. Drug Trends Bulletin Series. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney; 2026. Available from: doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/32049, opens in a new window
Funding and copyright
Drug Trends is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Drug and Alcohol Program.
©NDARC, UNSW SYDNEY 2026
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Research areas
