It has been a busy year in Queensland politics, since the October 2024 Election and unfortunately for cannabis consumers, the direction of travel has been backward rather than forward.

One of the most concerning developments is the decision by the LNP Government, under David Crisafulli, to weaken Queensland’s drug diversion laws. The Government has announced it will replace the existing three-strike diversion system with a single diversion opportunity.

Under the current system, introduced in May 2024, people found with small quantities of drugs can receive a police warning and, on subsequent occasions, be referred to a health-based diversion program rather than face criminal charges. The intent was simple and evidence-based: connect people with support and treatment, instead of pushing them straight into the criminal justice system.

The LNP has now moved to reduce those opportunities from three to just one. After that, repeat offences may result in fines or criminal charges.

Police Minister Dan Purdie has defended the change by arguing the previous system allowed people to avoid consequences too many times. However, this argument misunderstands the purpose of diversion programs; repeated contact with police often indicates someone who needs support and treatment rather than a criminal record.

For medicinal cannabis patients and adult cannabis consumers, this broader shift in drug policy direction also raises concerns about how evidence-based health approaches are being treated more generally. Health experts, including the Australian Medical Association Queensland, have warned that weakening diversion risks pushing vulnerable people back into the courts, rather than towards treatment and support.

Equally concerning is the lack of transparency around the evidence behind these policy shifts. The Queensland Government commissioned a review into drug-driving laws, including the impact of medicinal cannabis. Public consultation closed in 2023, yet the full findings and recommendations from that process have still not been publicly released.

When governments claim policy is “evidence based”, the evidence needs to be available for public scrutiny. Queenslanders deserve transparency about the data behind these decisions and an open discussion about policies that genuinely reduce harm rather than simply appearing “tough”.