The New South Wales government will decide on a bill as to whether drivers with a medicinal cannabis prescription will be free from prosecution if they undergo a positive roadside drug test.
The NSW Legalise Cannabis Party will present a bill to parliament on Wednesday calling for medicinal cannabis to be treated like other legal medications for drivers.
Party member Jeremy Buckingham told 2GB's Ben Fordham if a person is taking medicinal cannabis in accordance with their prescription and doctor's advice they shouldn't be prosecuted when undergoing a roadside drug test.
In NSW currently, it is illegal to have any amount of cannabis in your system behind the wheel even if it is prescribed by a doctor.
For the first offence, it is a $600 fine and a three-month licence suspension.
"Cannabis slows down reaction time, reduces ability to respond to situations, it also changes your perception of distance and time, lowers your concentration, reduces coordination and makes your drowsy," NSW Police say.
But Buckingham argued the new bill doesn't make users completely exempt, only those who are complying with their prescription and doctor's advice.
He agreed with police's sentiment towards the drug that those can be symptoms and if people are abusing their medicinal cannabis they should be subject to an impairment test and possible prosecution.
"We don't think we should undermine our road safety rules the impairment test should stay," he said.
"This is so people that are taking their medicine and are unimpaired can continue to live their lives."
Buckingham said if the bill passes then NSW drivers who have a medicinal cannabis prescription, drive and are subject to a positive roadside drug test can go to court and present their prescription copping no fine or licence suspension.
"If they're taking that medicinal cannabis in accordance with their medical prescription and they're not impaired they should be free from prosecution if they test positive in a roadside drug test," he said.
The bill will be presented to parliament for a vote later today.
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