Stalling on driving reform leaves medicinal cannabis patients trapped in fear

The waiting room of government inaction

In my years as a GP, I never saw a patient cured by red tape. Yet, here we are again, watching as the government allows outdated laws to dictate the lives of thousands. Patients who use medicinal cannabis are living in a state of constant, low-level dread. Every time they turn the ignition, they face the anxiety of potentially losing their licence, regardless of whether they are actually impaired or not. This is not just a policy oversight. It is a waiting room where patients are denied the basic dignity of being treated like responsible adults. We are talking about people who are simply trying to manage their health.

A report gathering dust

The working group into THC and driving reform submitted its final report over four months ago. I recently put this to the House to demand a timeline. The response was painfully predictable: the government is still considering the recommendations. They are essentially telling us that the report, which contains the potential to provide a path forward, is currently doing nothing more than gathering dust on a desk. This is the difference between those of us focused on evidence-based policy and the slow, grinding machinery of traditional party politics.

If you prefer your news unfiltered and want to stay updated on these crucial debates, please subscribe to my YouTube channel to follow the action from the Legislative Council.

The human cost of delay

The evidence was clear. The government ignored it. By sitting on this information, they are creating a gap between science and law that is far too wide. For many, this is more than an annoyance. It is a threat to their livelihood and their ability to function in society. My fellow forward-thinkers know that we cannot afford to wait forever while life-changing reforms are locked away behind a wall of caution. We need a clear answer, even if that answer is difficult, rather than this hollow silence.

I will continue to press for the transparency our community deserves. You can review the details of my question in the full official record of the House. If you are tired of this status quo and want to help us push for change, please join the movement by signing up at Legalise Cannabis WA today.