It’s been a lukewarm reception for the official response, but the medicinal cannabis lobby is pretty happy, as is the RACGP.
The NSW government has refused to stop using drug detection dogs and strip searching at music festivals trialling drug-checking services, in a response to the 2024 Drug Summit recommendations described as “out of touch with community attitudes” by participants.
A total of 56 recommendations came out of the summit. Today the government supported 36 of them and 13 others “in principle”, noted two, marked two others as for “further consideration” and rejected one – 12.10, about the drug detection dogs – outright.
More than 700 participants attended the summit forums over four days across metropolitan Sydney, Griffith and Lismore, and 3669 written submissions were received through an online survey.
A statement from health minister Ryan Park’s office this morning said the government made four commitments as “part of its response”:
- a whole of government Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy: to guide investments and program priorities for the next 10 years, underpinned by a harm-minimisation approach;
- reforming the Early Drug Diversion Initiative: to address restrictions relating to possession of multiple drugs, criminal history and threshold drug quantities;
- investigating a medical defence for people using medically prescribed cannabis who are driving: by considering the recommendations due to be provided by an expert working group which is assessing the evidence, reform options, safeguards and whole of government implementation considerations; and,
- reducing stigma and discrimination: by examining barriers to employment and exploring how to integrate the perspectives of people with lived experience in policies, programs and training.
“They’ve squibbed it,” said Emma Maiden, Uniting NSW.ACT’s director of advocacy and external relations.
“This response does not reflect what the community and the experts wanted.
“While we welcome the reforms to the EDDI scheme – this was already going to happen as part of the two-year review into the scheme.
“In terms of an ‘investigation into cannabis driving laws’ – we don’t need another ‘investigation’, we need the action already identified by the Cannabis Inquiry.
“The whole community will be shocked and disappointed at the lack of vision and boldness in the government’s response to the drug summit.
“The lack of leadership to meet the moment of the latest drug summit by the current government is profoundly disappointing.
“The NSW Government have let down the community down today.”
The RACGP’s spokesperson on alcohol and other drugs, Dr Marguerite Tracy, told TMR that the college supported the NSW government’s approach to harm reduction as the main approach to substance use.
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“The statement is remaining open to expert advice on issues around driving and medicinal cannabis which aligns with this approach – we wait to see the evidence of that investigation and outcomes arising from this and can comment further at that point,” she said.
“Over recent times drugs have predominantly been treated as a criminal issue. The 2024 Drug Summit recommendations and the NSW government response have some very encouraging signs of raising the status of this as a health issue.
“It is very heartening to see the issues and response to substance use being framed as a whole of government and community response with health included in all areas.
“The RACGP would like to see this plan strongly engaging with primary care and for GPs to be the centre of this care in all areas from prevention, early intervention and management,” said Dr Tracy.
“The planned approach needs to ensure general practices have the resources when people present at any life stage or use of substances to provide care and be able to coordinate collaborative care for more complex AOD issues.
“The investment into AOD services is welcomed but these services must integrate with general practice to prevent fragmentation of care and maximise opportunities for shared care and coordination.”
The Cannabis Council of Australia was delighted by the government’s response, calling it a “landmark step toward evidence-based reform”, and calling for a place at the leadership table.
“This is a pivotal moment for fairness and scientific integrity in Australia’s drug policy,” said CEO Lisa Penlington.
“Medicinal cannabis patients are prescribed their medicine under strict clinical oversight, yet they remain subject to laws that penalise presence rather than impairment.
“Reform must be guided by evidence, compassion and practical understanding of how these policies affect real people.
“The NSW Government’s expert working group must include the medicinal cannabis sector – those with the clinical, regulatory and real-world experience necessary to design workable policy.
“And it must deliver a clear, evidence-based framework within 12 months. Patients and prescribers have waited long enough,” she said.
Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said there was a more straightforward solution – amend the Road Transport Act to treat medicinal cannabis like any other prescription medication.
“We should focus on impairment, not presence,” said Mr Morey said.
“Police are already highly trained to detect impaired drivers. If someone is driving while impaired by any substance, they should be off the road. But unimpaired patients following their doctor’s orders shouldn’t face court summons or potentially lose their livelihoods.
“Workers and their families can’t wait for another expert working group while they’re forced to choose between managing their medical conditions and paying their bills. The solution to this problem is straightforward.”
Read the full government response here.
