Premiers urged to fix medicinal cannabis driving laws
State premiers are being urged to fix outdated road laws that effectively ban medicinal cannabis patients from driving even if they haven’t used cannabis for days. Thousands of medicinal cannabis patients across 6 states and territories could be allowed back behind the wheel if the proposal by drug policy nonprofit Penington Institute is […]
Response to Victoria cannabis decriminalisation report
A Victorian parliamentary committee has today published a report on the potential decriminalisation of cannabis in Victoria, drawing on the experience of the ACT. Commenting on the Victorian Parliament’s Inquiry into the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis) Bill 2023 report, Penington Institute CEO John Ryan […]
Victorian medical cannabis drivers no longer face automatic ban from Saturday 1 March
Download media release Victorian motorists who have medical cannabis in their system but are not impaired by the drug will no longer face automatic driving bans from Saturday 1 March 2025. John Ryan, CEO of drug policy nonprofit Penington Institute, says the rule change means Victorian medical cannabis patients will no longer be “forced to […]
Our impact: Penington Institute in 2024
Download Annual Review 2024 was a big year of action for Penington Institute, driving bold changes to make our communities safer in relation to drugs. This year, we focused on advancing meaningful progress across three key areas: Improving the management of cannabis in the community Reducing overdose in the community Improving knowledge about better approaches […]
ABC News: Experts say recreational use of benzodiazepine medication Xanax is increasing among young people
A growing black market for the benzodiazepine drug Xanax – including fake versions laced with synthetic opioids – is putting young lives at risk. Penington Institute CEO John Ryan shares some expert insights with ABC News. Read the story on ABC News. ABC News reports increasing concern from medical professionals about young people using the […]
Fake benzos – what’s the harm?
Download presentation slides Join us to learn more about some of the novel benzodiazepines emerging in Australia, and how frontline workers can be better prepared to respond. In recent years, novel benzodiazepines (or ‘fake’ or ‘street benzos’) have become increasingly prevalent in unregulated drug markets in Australia and overseas. Often sold as counterfeit products, these […]
Victorians asked to “Regulate It?” in new state-wide cannabis regulation campaign. Where do you stand?
Download media release In short: Penington Institute is inviting Victorians to ‘Take the Cannabis Test,’ a five-question online quiz to find out your stance on safe cannabis regulation. Public opinion polls already demonstrate widespread support for cannabis regulation, with 54% of Victorians in favour. Penington Institute’s proposed approach to safe cannabis regulation for adult use […]
9 News: Australians expected to spend $1 billion on medical cannabis this year as use of drug rockets
Penington Institute CEO John Ryan talks to 9 News about the changing attitudes towards both medicinal and personal use cannabis in Australia – and why it’s time for safe cannabis regulation. Australia’s medicinal cannabis market is surging, and data revealed in our new Cannabis in Australia 2024 report makes an increasingly compelling case to regulate […]
Herald Sun: Police splash mega cash to bust cannabis crims but report finds gangs still run industry
Australia is spending $2.1 billion a year on cannabis law enforcement – and it’s not working, Penington Institute CEO John Ryan tells the Herald Sun. This article, Police splash mega cash to bust cannabis crims but report finds gangs still run industry by Mark Buttler, discusses some of the key data and insights revealed in our […]
With the medicinal cannabis industry booming, Penington Institute urges governments to review their policy options
Download report Download media release In short: Penington Institute’s new report, Cannabis in Australia 2024, reveals the latest trends and insights on both medicinal and personal use cannabis in Australia. The Australian medicinal cannabis market has been growing significantly over the past two years, with Australians expected to spend over a billion dollars on […]
