Queensland hikes drug-driving fines while NSW eases rules for medicinal cannabis users

Queensland’s latest road-safety reforms, enacted through the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2026, will take effect on Dec. 1, 2026 and double the highest drug-driving fine from 14 to 28 penalty units, equating to about $4,836, with a new minimum court fine of roughly $1,295. The state also lengthens licence disqualification periods, raising the minimum for a first offence from one to two months, and creates a combined drink-and-drug offence that can carry up to 33 penalty units.

In contrast, New South Wales has passed legislation allowing drivers who hold a legitimate medicinal cannabis prescription to register with Transport for NSW, complete an online safety course, and avoid automatic penalties provided they stay under a THC threshold of 50 ng/mL. Positive tests above that level trigger warnings, fines of $722 and possible three-month licence suspensions for repeat offenders, but learners, provisional and commercial licence holders remain excluded. Both jurisdictions will continue saliva testing for methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and THC, and Queensland’s Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg noted the lack of a reliable roadside impairment test for THC.