In Australia, the NSW Government has responded to a report on the impact of the regulatory framework for cannabis in the state.
A related parliamentary inquiry was established in March 2024, the final report from which was released in June this year. Among the recommendations made were decriminalising the use and possession of cannabis with view to consideration of further reforms towards a regulated legalised cannabis market.
The report also raised concerns concerning importers facing less regulatory burden than local producers and the continued prosecution of people who drive unimpaired with cannabis in their system, particularly medicinal cannabis patients. This is an issue not just confined to New South Wales, but most Australian states and territories.
In its response, the NSW Government reiterated its stance concerning decriminalisation/legalisation of cannabis:
“The NSW Government’s policy position, which has been made clear to the community in previous public statements by the Government, is that it has no intention to decriminalise or legalise cannabis or to take steps to do so.”
The Committee’s final report also included enacting 11 policy reform measures it recommended in its first report, among which were a medical defence for driving with a detectable level of THC.
“The Report on the 2024 NSW Drug Summit and its recommendations will guide the Government’s consideration of any drug policy reform in NSW,” says the response. ” The Government will respond to the report’s recommendations in due course.”
The State Government previously said it expected to respond sometime this year.
On a couple of other recommendations relating to imports, the State Government noted regulation of and support for the medicinal cannabis industry are matters for Commonwealth Government consideration.
On removing the potential for jail time for possession of small quantities of cannabis, the NSW Government said it has the Cannabis Cautioning Scheme to deal with minor cannabis offences, where persons can be formally cautioned by police rather than charged.
Harking back to the issue of medicinal cannabis and driving, New South Wales Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann, who was a member of the Inquiry committee, introduced the Road Transport Amendment (Medicinal Cannabis-Exemptions from Offences) Bill 2025 to NSW parliament in May this year. There’s been no further activity on that since May.
