Legislation to allow people to drive with medicinal cannabis in their system is set to go before the South Australian parliament.
Greens upper house MP Tammy Franks says current laws across the country discriminate against people taking a legally prescribed drug. Her proposed changes, similar to those currently under review in Victoria, would give people a defence if drug tested while driving.
That defence would be overturned if the driver was deemed to be impaired or if dangerous or reckless driving was involved.
“Current drug driving laws in South Australia are simply not fair,” said Sarah Vinall, SA State President, ALA. “People lose their license, and sometimes their job, not because of impaired driving, but because of flawed laws.
Drivers who take opioids or other prescription medication do not find themselves in court or risk losing their license, and neither should drivers who have taken a prescribed and legal dose of cannabis. These drug driving laws were developed before cannabis became a legally recognised prescribed medication and the law needs to change to stay relevant.
Is it time for more states to follow suit?
View the proposed legislation here https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au
You can help by signing and sharing this petition https://www.change.org/drugdriving
