NSW motorists who use medicinal cannabis may soon be able to drive without fear of major penalty
Summary
The New South Wales (NSW) government plans to change rules to let people with a medicinal cannabis prescription drive without harsh penalties if they have THC in their system. Drivers must register their prescription, and there will be limits on THC levels; penalties will apply only if those limits are exceeded multiple times.Key Facts
- NSW will introduce laws allowing medicinal cannabis users to drive without a three-month licence suspension or fine for having THC in their body.
- Drivers must register their medicinal cannabis prescription with Transport NSW.
- Drivers can have THC levels up to a set limit; a positive roadside test results in a 24-hour driving ban until lab tests confirm THC levels.
- If THC is above the limit, drivers get warnings on the first two occasions, with a third violation within two years triggering a minimum three-month licence suspension and a $704 fine.
- About one million Australians use medicinal cannabis; up to a third live in NSW.
- Current laws penalize some drivers with medicinal cannabis prescriptions even if they are not impaired.
- Experts say THC can stay in the body long after effects wear off, making current drug tests unfair for medicinal users.
- The reforms aim to balance road safety with the needs of seriously ill patients who rely on medicinal cannabis.
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