28th of May 2024, 12:52pm
Legislative Council of Victoria, Spring Street, Melbourne
David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan):
My constituency question is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety in the other place.
My constituent suffers from fibromyalgia and several other health problems. Managing her chronic pain is a daily battle, and she says the side effects from opioids are too profound so she wants to give medicinal cannabis a try.
She started using CBD oil, but so far it has not helped her manage her pain. Her doctor has advised her that she is likely to need a THC-containing medication to be able to come off her schedule 8 medicinal heroin, but she does not want to risk losing her licence.
She lives in Taylors Hill, and her journey to work by car typically takes 35 minutes – or 2 hours by public transport.
Given that the government has effectively abandoned public transport reform in the western suburbs, when will the government make a final decision about allowing medicinal cannabis patients in Western Metropolitan Region to drive?
Written Answer
Received: 13 June 2024
Hon. Melissa Horne MP
(Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety)
I thank the Member for his question.
I appreciate that many individuals prescribed medicinal cannabis to treat underlying health conditions have a genuine driving need.
It remains an offense in Victoria to drive whilst impaired from any substance, including any form of prescription medication. Under current Victorian drug driving regulations, it is an offence for a person to drive with any trace of THC in their system, even if they have a valid prescription from their doctor. On average, 15 per cent of fatally injured drivers over the past five years in Victoria had THC in their system and analysis conducted by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine shows THC increases the risk of being involved in a crash.
As you are aware, as part of the 2024-25 State Budget, the Allan Labor Government provided $4.9 million investment to conduct a closed-circuit track trial to investigate driver performance and impairment associated with medicinal cannabis. A trial of this scale represents a world-first research study to establish whether Victorians who use medicinal cannabis for a legitimate health condition can drive safely.
The Department of Transport and Planning has awarded Swinburne University of Technology the tender to coordinate the closed-circuit track trial, with guidance and governance provided by the broader Victorian Road Safety Partnership. The first driving assessment of the trial will commence in the second half of 2024, with the trial’s completion expected within 18 months from the initial drive.
I can confirm that participants of the trial will include patients who have been prescribed medicinal cannabis by their treating health professional for chronic conditions related to pain management, a mental health condition, or a sleep disorder.
Before the trial can commence, other additional establishment activities are needed to ensure the safety of participants and requirements for conducting the trial including procurement and fit-out of the appropriate testing vehicles with dual controls and monitoring technology.
The trial will evaluate key driver performance metrics including lane weaving, braking performance, speed adherence and steering variability. The trial will also assess motor and cognitive impairments. The findings of the track trial will contribute to the data needed to determine if Victorians who are prescribed medical cannabis (containing THC) can be in control of a vehicle without compromising their safety, or the safety of other road users.
It is crucial to assess, investigate and understand the impact of consuming medicinal cannabis as prescribed, as well as any potential safety risks using reliable, place-based evidence to inform future decisions. No decision has been made at this time on whether or not Victoria will permit people who are prescribed medical cannabis to use the road network.
With an informed evidence base, the Government is committed to investigating approaches that could strike a fairer balance between the driving needs of those on medicinal cannabis for legitimate purposes and the road safety risk to all road users associated with THC.
[ENDS]
