In a historic move, the Allan Government in Victoria has agreed to investigate a defence and report back by mid-October.

Legalise Cannabis NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham has called on the NSW Government to follow Victoria’s lead and investigate a defence for unimpaired medical cannabis drivers.

Currently, Tasmania is the only Australian state to offer a defence for medical cannabis patients who drive whilst unimpaired.

The breakthrough comes as AFL coaching greats Damien Hardwick (Gold Coast) and Alastair Clarkson (North Melbourne) have teamed up with champion jockey to call on an overhaul of the driving laws.

They join NFL legend Andrew Johns and basketballers Lauren Jackson and Andrew Bogut in lobbying for change.

Jeremy Buckingham applauded the Victorian Government and called on Premier Chris Minns and Roads Minister John Graham to follow suit.

“We’ve had strong signs from both Premier Minns and Minister Graham that they support treating medical cannabis in exactly the same way as all other prescription drugs,” Mr Buckingham said.

“No-one is defending people who get behind the wheel when they are impaired.

“All we are asking for is the same defence in court for medical cannabis users as already exists for those prescribed opiates such as Endone.

“It’s plain wrong that people are pushed onto far more dangerous opiates to treat their condition, simply because cannabis was an illegal drug when the driving laws were made.

“Medical cannabis has been legal since 2016 and the law needs to reflect that.”