ACT medicinal cannabis users face longer wait for legal driving shield
ACT medicinal cannabis patients must wait for legal protection in drug-driving laws until reliable roadside impairment tests exist.
About 10,600 ACT residents received about 56,000 medicinal cannabis prescriptions between June 2024 and June 2026. A bill would let patients test positive for THC without breaking the law.
The defence would apply only if they are not actually impaired. The government supports the idea.
But it cannot carry it out yet. No agreed level shows police when a driver is too impaired to safely drive.
This differs from the alcohol breath test, which has a clear limit. Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said better technology will eventually make reform possible.
Police warned that roadside testing can find THC. But it cannot measure actual impairment with certainty.
- 56,000 between June 2024 and June 2026
- Prescriptions
- about 10,600 ACT residents
- Patients
- Andrew Braddock
- Bill sponsor
Why it mattersMedicinal cannabis patients can be charged with a drug-driving offence for legally using their prescription. This can happen even if they are not impaired.
AustraliaAbout 10,600 ACT patients currently face potential drug-driving charges for legal prescriptions until the territory finds a way to test impairment separately from drug detection.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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