Victoria’s hashish legal guidelines are inflicting numerous chronically sick folks to as a substitute take addictive prescription medicines, a physician has warned.
It comes amid proposed new legal guidelines for the state which might permit to customers to drive with the drug detectable of their system.
The invoice was launched to the higher home on Wednesday by members of the Legalise Cannabis Party which nabbed two seats on the final election.
Among the modifications to the Road Safety act would come with it now not being an offence for in any other case unimpaired drivers to have detectable tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of their blood or oral fluid.
TCH is the first psychoactive substance from hashish.
Dr Karen Hitchcock, who works as a GP specialising in medicinal hashish, stated Victoria’s present legal guidelines have been pushing sufferers in direction of different prescribed drugs.
“I am referred patients with insomnia, often to assist them to withdraw from addictive drugs with overdose potential – benzodiazepines such as valium and temazepam, opiates, antipsychotics such as quetiapine, and hypnotics,” she stated.
Dr Hitchcock stated a dose of hashish oil earlier than mattress is “often all that is required” to deal with signs however this may keep in a driver’s system after “the effects of the cannabis have long abated”.
“Unfortunately by morning, the patient may still have traces of THC in their saliva, and it may be detected in their blood for weeks,” she stated.
“Many patients choose to stay on their more dangerous and more addictive medications because of the driving laws. Others take a risk, as the relief and increase in quality of life now that they are sleeping soundly are worth the risk of losing their licence.
Dr Hitchcock went on to say the current laws could cause pain-stricken drivers to become a danger on the roads due to a lack of sleep.
“Sleep deprivation, we know, grossly impairs driving ability. It is time the laws were changed to reflect the reality that cannabis is a medicine,” she stated.
“It is time we stopped mistaking innocent citizens for criminals”.
Legalise Cannabis Victoria MP David Ettershank, who represents the Western Metropolitan area, stated the legal guidelines ought to be centered on impairment, not simply THC being current.
“People who have been prescribed a medicine and can drive safely should be allowed to drive – this is how we treat every single prescription medicine in Victoria, except medicinal cannabis, and it’s time for that to be corrected,” he stated.
“Testing for the sheer presence of THC rather than impairment is not right. This failure is based on stigma rather than evidence and the law for cannabis needs to be brought in line with all other prescription medicines.”
Currently, Tasmania is the one state which offers a medical defence for driving with the presence of THC in bodily fluids.
This is simply relevant if the medicinal hashish is obtained and administered in accordance with state legal guidelines.
In response to a Bill on the problem in 2019, the Victorian authorities established the Medicinal Cannabis and Safe Driving Working Group and commissioned analysis into its potential affect.
Originally printed as Fresh calls to alter state’s medicinal hashish driving legal guidelines
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
