Wednesday, 2 April 2025

Cannabis law reform

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (09:57): It is nice to be reminded that the work we do here can make a positive difference in people’s lives. Legalise Cannabis Victoria’s amendment to the Road Safety Act 1986 came into effect on 1 March, allowing magistrates to exercise discretion in sentencing for medicinal cannabis patients who test positive for THC in roadside drug tests. I want to read a message I received from a grateful constituent this week. They wrote:

Hey David. Just want to say a massive thankyou to you and Rachel and the team at Legalise Cannabis. I have ADHD. It means I am either thinking of too many things at once and struggling to concentrate or I am stuck buffering on the one idea. A simple job like the dishes can take days. I sit on the couch thinking about it, but it does not seem to do. Then there’s the hyper focus side. My bosses love me because I am a machine. I do get lots done but in a very untidy fashion. My morning dose of cannabis is enough to slow my mind so that I can actually complete a task before moving on to the next one. My dose at night helps with the buffering so I can get things done, like the dishes. Things are just better now without the anxiety of thinking that I am going to be pulled over and fail an oral test for THC. David, I guarantee you I don’t get ripped and go out driving. I am just a normal bloke who just needs a slight adjustment in a very mild way. So thank you for all your hard work and the dedication in supporting us average Aussies.