Victorian government to trial the impacts of medicinal cannabis use on driving – Hmm, but who is overseeing the trial, and outcomes will emerge?

Details: Published: 29 August 2023; Hits: 584

Channel 7 released news on State governments Cannabis and Driving Trials…“It is currently illegal for residents to drive while under the influence of THC, the main psychoactive chemical in marijuana.

Victorian medicinal cannabis users will be put through a closed-track trial to see when it’s safe for them to get behind the wheel. The 18-month trial will look at the level of impairment medicinal cannabis can cause.

It will not take place on public roads to ensure there’s no safety risk to participants or members of the public, a government spokeswoman said.
Victorian medicinal cannabis users will be put through a closed-track trial to see when it’s safe for them to get behind the wheel.

The 18-month trial will look at the level of impairment medicinal cannabis can cause.

It will not take place on public roads to ensure there’s no safety risk to participants or members of the public, a government spokeswoman said. “Safety on our roads is our No.1 priority,” the statement read. “This trial will give us more data about when medicinal cannabis patients can safely drive on the road.” (source: 7NEWS)

So, another trial? But why? Extensive research has been done globally on this issue around THC and driving impairment, and pretty much all of it uncovers what we intuitively know, that is DOES! Ah, but there was some ‘outliers’ and one such ‘study’ was from a Melbourne based University. A group commissioned by pro-cannabis legalisation groups to conduct a study.

Not unsurprisingly, the findings in this study were far more ‘agnostic’ and even producing a finding that THC and driving wasn’t really a problem – for ‘medical users’ of course!

We here at People Against Drink and Drug Driving will be interested to see where this ‘study’ will land.