The Legalise Cannabis Queensland Party and its members are up in arms about changes, to the Roadside Drug Testing laws, which are soon to be made by the majority LNP government
The say the changes don’t take into account the concerns expressed by the opposition, medicinal-cannabis patients, legal experts, civil-liberties advocates, the industry and healthcare workers.
They also say harsh new penalties do not exclude the 300,000 legally prescribed medicinal-cannabis patients in Queensland. Under the proposed changes, patients who have followed their doctor’s instructions and are not impaired, will face higher penalties because traces of their legally prescribed medication remain in their system. The changes also make licence suspension mandatory which would negatively affect many patients living regionally or remotely, who depend on their licences to earn a living, or meet essential responsibilities.
Zero tolerance laws
Zero tolerance laws, at random static and mobile testing, would see patients facing higher penalties, longer suspensions and even jail for ‘repeat offending’.
The LCQ says proposed legislation would continue Queensland’s reliance on (they say proven unreliable) roadside saliva testing, with increased levels of testing, that detect THC at ANY level in saliva, but not establishing any impairment.
Current research shows repeatedly that THC can remain detectable long after any possible impairing effects have passed.
LCQ Party President, Jacqueline Verne, said the proposed laws would unfairly punish patients for taking medication prescribed by qualified medical practitioners. ‘We strongly support road safety and do not support anyone driving while impaired by fatigue, cannabis, alcohol or any other substance’, said Ms Verne. ‘But this policy discriminates against disabled people taking a legal medicine. No other medication is treated in this way.’
Medicinal cannabis is used by people from all walks of life including Mums and Dads, veterans and front-line workers to manage conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, anxiety, other mental health issues and workplace injuries. Patients should not have to choose between following their doctor’s treatment plan and retaining their licence, employment and independence.’
Test for impairment
‘Impairment must be the test. The mere presence of a legally prescribed medicine does not prove that somebody is a threat to other road users, especially when detected at five-billionths-of-a-gram per millilitre of saliva.’
The LCQ Party will be holding a Protest Rally outside Parliament house in Brisbane tomorrow, Tuesday, August 25, at the same time the law changes are on the agenda to be debated. The rally will be held from 12pm noon to 2pm and will call on the Government to introduce evidence-based laws that test drivers for impairment rather than just presence of THC.
Speakers at the Rally will include: Professor David Heilpern – Dean of Law at Southern Cross University and Lead Advocate, Drive Change; Michael Berkman – Queensland Greens, Member for Maiwar; Michael Cope – President, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties; Dr John Teh – Medical Director, PlantMed; Kyla de Clifford —Activist, Patient Advocate and Canna Curious Podcast Host, Suzette Luyken – Legalise Cannabis Queensland/Legalise Cannabis Australia Patient and Patient Advocate; Michael Balderstone – President, Legalise Cannabis Australia; Melanie Wentzel – Director, Medigrowth/Cannabis Queens; Kaaz Kelly – Patient; Ad Hillbrick – Activist, Patient Advocate, No More Zombie Vets; Shelly Morton – Activist, Her Highness, and; Debbie Ranson – Specialist Cannabinoid Registered Nurse Prescriber.
The rally against Queensland’s proposed drug-driving laws is on tomorrow, Tuesday, August 25, from 12pm , outside Queensland Parliament House, on the corner of George and Alice Streets, Brisbane.
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