Our state government has announced one minister will be sent to the UK and another to the US to study the effectiveness of wheels. Taking their findings into account, we will then set up our own tests and trials to judge how wheels perform in our climate and how safe wheels are for the general public. We expect to announce our results in 2026 and in 2028 legislate the use of wheels in our state.
The above is nonsense of course.
Patients can now be prescribed medicinal cannabis by some doctors. It is incredibly helpful for some people who suffer various ailments.
Yet if they drive and are roadside drug tested they will register a positive reading for THC, a component of the drug, and risk losing their driving licenses. The positive can stay in their systems for days, weeks even. I hasten to say their driving will not at all be affected, in fact with reduced pain levels they will probably drive better. I've heard on the quiet that police are being very pragmatic about these low level positive drug tests registered by older people and some younger.
While the state of Tasmania has behaved in a very practical manner, Victoria has not. We are going to run trials on closed roads to see how THC levels effects motorists. The results will come in and maybe next year some changes to the laws could be made. I am quite sure this has been studied all over the world but our stupid state must make its own studies.
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My Territory is as stupid as your State on this issue. Big, big sigh.
ReplyDeleteEC, no one wants drugged drivers on the roads but how hard can this be?
DeleteHow infuriating. The ongoing 'drug war' in the United States is a misguided sham that makes me angry. Of course, so do the old lies of the 'food pyramid' and other so-called healthy choices that doomed me and many of mine to obesity related health issues. ~ugh~ Best wishes to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteDarla, do tell what is wrong with the food pyramid.
DeleteThat's very clever, or am I reading too much into it.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a compliment Tasker. I'll take it.
DeleteI'm lost for words.
ReplyDeleteThat's ok Graham. I almost was.
DeleteGovernment does not care about the safety of the public. It is just a figure of speech for virtue signaling and gaslighting. Problem with psychotropics is that their efficacy is not demonstrated in majority of people but a minority. Yet, there is no predictors who would respond and who would not. Most doctor prescribers will be caught in a hot mess when government needs a scapegoat.
ReplyDeleteRoentare, your opinion is valued. Certainly governments always like to find scapegoats. Bone Doctor had done the training, which is mostly online but she did spend time with a pharmaceutical representative. She has not prescribed yet.
DeleteHere is what frustrates me about the legalization of marijuana: pot does have medical uses. Sure. But it can be given as a pill. The pill form contains no thc. I cannot tell you the number of people I know that smoke pot because they have anxiety. Smoking kills. Any benefit is eclipsed by that one fact.
ReplyDeleteDebby, you don't think anxiety and depression, or living with constant pain can't kill? On average a few years may be knocked off someone's life by smoking. Isn't it better that have an improved quality of their shortened lives? Anyway, this is prescribed medical treatment and nothing to do with smoking pot. As I understand, the pill here does contain low levels of THC.
DeleteOh yes - the wheel is a great invention. We find wheels really useful over here in The British Isles and I am sure that when you Aussie folk get used to them you will also realise just what you have been missing.
ReplyDeleteYP, I'd like to take your word for it but I think I will wait on our own wheel testing.
DeleteI am still in two minds about this. I heartily agree that cannabis can help certain conditions and I understand it can be just as beneficial without the THC high. It's like alcohol. It can help some people but you shouldn't drive over the limit. But again ... some people shouldn't drive with any alcohol in their system because the smallest amount affects them, and other could be quite safe at 0.06 but would be booked.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd prefer to argue about the wheel.
Caro, I can only say we need to listen to medical advice from experts on the matter, rather than governments.
DeleteThe problem is that whatever they test for (I think THC) lingers in the body for months and the tests pick up very tiny quantities which have nothing (subject to studies on "the wheel") to do with capacity to drive and everything to do with a back-door way of enforcing marijuana prohibition by imposing draconian punishments on those who just happen to be unfortunate enough to have been driving and then tested. I don't think there are any studies showing that the lowest levels picked up by these tests do impair driving capacity. It's just: it's a drug, it's illegal, we can find it, you are booked, and now (especially for people without access to public transport or needing to drive for their jobs or to ferry their children about or physically incapacitated) you are stuffed.
DeleteThat's as I understand it MC. Thank you.
DeleteSome people should be on the road. There just bad drivers.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on, and stay safe.
That's quite true Dora.
DeleteWell said Andrew, I am so very tired of my government reinventing the wheel constantly, hiring "consultants" to study stuff that other nations have approved. Such a waste.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
And yet WWW, in spite of all reinvention of wheels, still governments make bad decisions. Governments need to have experienced and independent advice from inhouse staff and not corrupted consultants.
DeleteNever mind driving. Here in the US a lot of places won't hire you if they find traces of cannabis in your blood stream.
ReplyDeleteKirk, yes that happens here too. After writing this I learnt about random workplace drug testing in the building industry and some have to choose between medical relief or a job.
DeleteIt might help if those drivers are able to carry a medical card saying what they are taking and why.
ReplyDeleteC'mon River. You are being far too sensible.
DeleteBeing prescribed medicinal cannabis by some doctors is probably helpful for many people but I suffer from the ageing process, one dodgy eye and surgical remains from 7 years ago :(
ReplyDeleteHels, I don't think medical cannabis would help your eye issues, but it can help people struggling with the physical issues of the ageing process.
Deletehttps://glaucoma.org.au/news-details/treatment/is-cannabis-a-treatment-for-glaucoma
DeleteThanks MC. It really has no value for glaucoma then.
DeleteThere are always jobsworths intent or reinventing the wheel. Exasperating, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteJB, such just drives me mad. I your country has properly tested something with peer review, why do we need to do the whole test over again.
DeleteI seem to remember back in the 1970s my young cousin growing marijjuana plants in a secret location near his parents' home in Wollongong. Perhaps he had a medical condition I didn't know about.
ReplyDeleteTomato plants JayCee, I am sure. Most young people might have a smoke at times of MaryJane and it will be a good experience for them. But the same drug can really derail some kids into adult years.
DeleteAre there different levels in different countries to determine dangerous driving as far as alcohol is concerned?
ReplyDeleteME, certainly as far as alcohol goes, yes. In some Australian states it was .05 but in a couple of states, .08. I think it is unified here at least now. I think Scandinavian countries have very low limits.
DeleteGood grief Victoria, I'm not sure what to make of that decision. I suppose it gives people jobs.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I often think that is the case, to keep the big machinery of governments well oiled.
Delete