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Proposed drug driving law unfair and not supported by science
8th Sep 2021
Proposed new drug driving laws in SA are not fair to drivers who can lose their license for taking prescribed cannabis with no evidence of impaired driving, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
“These proposed new laws in South Australia are probably the worst we have seen in the road safety space anywhere in Australia in recent years,” said Mr Greg Barns SC, national criminal justice spokesperson, ALA. “The laws will force people who use medicinal cannabis off the roads.
“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.
“With drugs such as cannabis there is not a clear link between a positive test and adverse driving particularly given that minute levels of the drug can be detected. There is no scientific support for this proposed law change.
“Cannabis is a legally recognised prescribed medication and the law needs to acknowledge this to stay relevant. This law will make cannabis the only prescription medication that excludes an individual from driving completely.”
In February the Road Traffic (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced into parliament in South Australia by Tammy Franks MLC
“This Bill acknowledged the reality of drug driving testing and should be supported,” said Mr Barns SC.
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