Image designed by Cannabis Club Australia.
New reforms in Victoria, effective March 1, 2025, give magistrates discretion in sentencing drivers who test positive for THC (the active compound in cannabis) but are unimpaired while using medicinal cannabis. This change marks a significant shift from previous laws, where any THC presence resulted in an automatic licence suspension.
Former Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades, a long-time user of medicinal CBD oil for chronic pain, supports the reform but notes it’s not perfect. "Magistrates can, not will, allow you to keep your licence," she explains. “It’s a step in the right direction, but it still needs work.”
Blades, who has volunteered for an 18-month trial by Swinburne University assessing the effects of medicinal cannabis on driving, believes this reform will help patients feel more confident taking their medication without the fear of losing their licence.
Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank also supports the change, saying it allows prescription holders to present their case before a magistrate, ensuring a fairer approach for those using cannabis as part of their medical treatment.
With medicinal cannabis use rising in Australia, the reform offers hope for patients who need it most. However, Blades stresses that further improvements are necessary to ensure full support for patients managing chronic conditions with cannabis.
👉 Read the full story: https://dandenong.starcommunity.com.au/news/2024-11-15/medicinal-cannabis-reform-welcomed
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