THE NSW Government has formally responded to the 2024 Drug Summit recommendations, saying it is building on its commitment to reform the state's whole-of-government approach to alcohol and other drug use, placing harm reduction and wellbeing at the forefront of policy.
In the response announced yesterday, there is support or in-principle support for 50 of 56 recommendations put forward in the Drug Summit report, which was released earlier this year (PD 04 Apr).
Among the stated commitments are an investigation into a medical defence for people using medically prescribed cannabis who are driving - at present, Tasmania and Victoria are the only jurisdictions in Australia that have a medicinal cannabis drug driving defence.
Critics have slammed the delay of action, with Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey saying the solution was more straightforward - amend the Road Transport Act to treat medicinal cannabis like any other prescription medication.
"We should focus on impairment, not presence," Morey said.
"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."
Emma Maiden, Uniting NSW.ACT's Director of Advocacy and External Relations, concurred: "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."
Of the response more broadly, Maiden said, "this weak response today is a win for bad politics over good policy".
The NSW Government also committed to a whole-of-government Alcohol and Other Drug Strategy, guiding investments and program priorities for the next 10 years and underpinned by a harm minimisation approach.
In addition, it will reform the Early Drug Diversion Initiative to address restrictions relating to possession of multiple drugs, criminal history and threshold drug quantities.
The Royal Australian College of GPs has welcomed the NSW Government's support for many of the recommendations.
"This includes reforming the Early Drug Diversion Initiative, and ensuring life-saving naloxone, which can temporarily save the life of someone experiencing an opioid overdose, is made available in licensed venues across the state to include as part of their first-aid responses," said RACGP NSW and ACT Chair Dr Rebekah Hoffman. KB
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