Australian State of Victoria may end automatic licence loss for drivers testing positive for cannabis

The Guardian

Labor considering expert report’s call for judges to have discretion to not cancel licences of those using the drug.

Drivers who use medicinal cannabis in Victoria will be able to remain behind the wheel under a proposed interim measure being considered by the state government.

In an expert report tabled in parliament on Wednesday, the former magistrate Tony Parsons called on the government to provide the courts with judicial discretion not to cancel the licences of medicinal cannabis users.

He said the “interim proposal” would “act as a bridge” between the present legislation and the findings of a government-funded trial into the impact of medical cannabis on driving, which was not expected until 2026.

The $4.9m trial, which is being conducted by Swinburne University, will review about 70 medicinal cannabis users’ ability to manage distractions and assess their performance behind the wheel, including steering, braking and speed control on a dedicated track.

But in the interim, it continues to be an offence for a person to drive with any trace of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the psychoactive component of cannabis – in their system.

It means medicinal cannabis users can risk losing their licence or being fined each time they drive to work or drop their children off at school.

Source:  https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/30/victoria-medical-cannabis-driving-licence-cancellation-exemption-proposal

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