In the Australian state of Victoria, a trial has commenced investigating the impacts of medicinal cannabis on driving ability.
Across most of Australia, including Victoria, it’s illegal to drive with any level of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC in your system – and it may be detected up to weeks after it was last consumed. This also applies to patients who have been legally prescribed cannabis; effectively banning them from driving or risk prosecution even if their driving is not impaired.
In August 2023, then-Victorian Premier Dan Andrews announced a trial to investigate the road safety risks. That trial was meant to start this year and run through 2024. However, it has only just kicked off with the first drive taking place at METEC Driver Training in Bayswater. A regional track trial is also set to begin in Anglesea.
The $4.9 million exercise will be run over 18-months and is being conducted by Swinburne University of Technology.
“We’ve made significant strides in the articulation of our research vehicles, which are specifically designed to assess driving performance in real-world conditions,” said Swinburne University’s Professor Luke Downey, who leads the Drugs and Driving Research Unit at the University.
Testing includes closely monitoring participants’ ability to manage distractions and will assess their driving performance; including steering, braking and speed control. Participants will be accompanied by a qualified driving instructor at all times while driving, who will have access to dual controls allowing intervention if a situation requires it.
For patients, 18 months will be a very long time to wait for results from the trial – and it will be even longer if laws are to change. But in other recent related news, a report tabled in Victoria’s Parliament last week has recommended the state’s courts be given more discretion with regard to medicinal cannabis users and driving; specifically around mandatory licence loss. However, a positive test for THC while driving would still remain an offence, and other penalties would remain in place.
Still, it’s a step in the right direction.
“This reform could serve as a model for other states, potentially leading to nationwide changes in how we approach medical cannabis and driving laws,” says the Legalise Cannabis Party. “The proposal demonstrates Victoria’s commitment to evidence-based policy that protects both road safety and patient rights.”
