Legalise Cannabis Queensland (LCQ) Party is calling for support in opposing the Queensland Government’s proposed random drug driving law changes, which would impose harsher penalties on legally prescribed medicinal cannabis patients than those imposed for many drink driving offences!
A review by the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee of the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 was our last hope, but the Report (published 14 August) made one recommendation only and that was to pass the Bill as written.
The State Government is aiming to push this through by 1 December 2026. Drug driving penalties will double (up to $5,000), it will be more difficult to get your licence back with longer licence disqualifications and repeat drug drivers will face mandatory imprisonment.
Further changes in 2027 will include expanded roadside drug testing, allowing police to conduct more tests and process drivers more quickly. The Queensland LNP is NOT considering fairer laws for prescribed medicinal cannabis patients. Meanwhile, New South Wales is moving ahead with reforms and Tasmania and Victoria already provide protections.
LCQ is organising a peaceful protest, the Brisbane Driving Law Rally, on the first sitting day (Tuesday 25 August) of the Queensland Parliament and announced on social media that Professor David Heilpern, Dean of Law at Southern Cross University and one of the drivers behind Drive Change, will be the major speaker, with another nine speakers from different areas that all deal with the rights of medicinal cannabis patients, listed below (in alphabetical order);
Michael Balderstone—President, LCA
Michael Berkman—Greens MP for Maiwar
Michael Cope—President, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties
Kyla de Clifford—Patient Advocate, Canna Curious
Adam Hillbrick—No More Zombie Veterans
Kaaz Kelly—Medicinal Cannabis Patient
Suzette Luyken—Cannabis Law Reform Advocate—LCQ / LCA
Debbie Ranson—Specialist Cannabinoid Registered Nurse Prescriber, Activist, Advocate—Cannabiz 2026 Nurse of the Year!
Melanie Wentzel—Medigrowth (collaborates with Deakin and Monash Universities and the Universities of Adelaide, New South Wales and Western Australia).
For more detail on these impressive speakers and regular updates on the Rally itself, please see the ‘running sheet’ on the LCQ website, join the Private Facebook Group, Brisbane Driving Law Rally 2026 or email the Party for more information.
The Queensland LNP Government is letting legally prescribed medicinal cannabis patients down, big time! LCQ is appalled at the abject medical discrimination and hope enough of you are too, so we can make a big noise outside the Parliament!
Kindly note that for those who do not feel comfortable in public supporting cannabis law reform (for a whole raft of reasons and the Party understands entirely), the Party has had ‘Anonymity Leaves’ printed with rally slogans for attendees who would like to cover their faces.
If you can, please donate to our Rally Campaign and don’t forget to register for the Event via Facebook to give the Party a good idea of numbers attending. Thank you and see you there!
