Why is our government ignoring clear medical cannabis driving solutions from interstate

The heavy cost of bureaucratic silence

In my decades of medical practice, I learned one fundamental truth: delay is often the enemy of health. We rely on evidence, we trust the data, and we expect our public officials to act when a clear, life-changing solution presents itself. Yet, when it comes to medicinal cannabis and our archaic driving laws, we find ourselves stuck in a cycle of inactivity. This is not merely a bureaucratic nuisance. It is a source of profound anxiety for thousands of Western Australians who rely on prescribed medication to function.

These patients wake up in fear each morning. They live in dread that a routine roadside stop will punish them for using a legal, doctor-prescribed medicine. It is a waiting room where the fear of the law prevents people from living normally. While our government sits on its hands, the personal and professional risks to these individuals grow every single day.

If you prefer your political updates without the red tape, please subscribe to my YouTube channel for regular, honest analysis from the Legislative Council.

The contrast between states

We look at what is happening across the country with a sense of frustration. Recently, we observed New South Wales successfully produce detailed, workable THC driving proposals in just two months. It was a swift, pragmatic move. They saw the problem, consulted the experts, and chose a path forward. In contrast, our own government appears content to let proposals gather dust on a Minister's desk for over three months. The question arises: if they can do it so quickly over there, why are we still waiting here?

I took this concern to the House today. I asked for transparency regarding any communication between our government and our interstate counterparts. The answer was a cold, short no. They have not even reached across the border to see how the solution might be applied here. This is not leadership. It is an active choice to remain stuck in the past while the evidence for reform stares us right in the face.

A call for evidence-based change

We are a community of forward-thinkers. We value science and we value fairness. The status quo is unfair to the patient who needs their car for work, for childcare, and for basic independence. Ignoring the reality of medicinal cannabis use in the modern world is a failure of policy that puts the vulnerable at risk. I will continue to hold the line and demand that our government treats this with the urgency it deserves.

You can read the full account of my questions and the subsequent lack of answers in the official Hansard record. If you believe it is time for a common-sense approach to this issue, I invite you to join our growing movement at Legalise Cannabis WA.