The NSW state government ramped up random drug testing in December 2015 and plans to conduct about 100,000 tests this year. Critics of the test said the policy of testing for traces of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis) rather than general impairment was unfair. A NSW Police spokesperson told BuzzFeed News that the presence of cannabis – if driving – remained an offence.



NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge, a vocal opponent of MDTs, told BuzzFeed News the NSW Police refused to engage on the topic of medicinal cannabis legislation.

"One of the key reasons police oppose medicinal cannabis was they were concerned it would stuff around their roadside drug testing regimes," he said.



"The unscientific, blunt instrument that is roadside drug testing was one of the reasons it took so long to get medicinal cannabis up in the first place."

Shoebridge said it was a "bizarre situation" when a person with traces of prescribed medicinal cannabis would lose their licence while a driver who was "coked up to their eyeballs" would pass their test.

"Unfortunately, the first person prosecuted is going to create a crisis," he said.

BuzzFeed News has sought comment from health minister Greg Hunt.