A new Victorian report into workplace drug testing has found that employees prescribed medicinal cannabis have routinely lost their job or faced disciplinary action just for taking a legal medication – and the law must be amended to protect them.

Legalise Cannabis MP David Ettershank said the report, stemming from a parliamentary inquiry, highlighted the need for government to keep up with medical advancements.

“Workplace drug testing policies produced by WorkSafe have not been updated in Victoria for 17 years, they were drawn up almost a decade before doctors could prescribe medicinal cannabis here,” he said.

“We really need to get with the times because more than 1.2 million prescriptions for medicinal cannabis have been issued nationally to help people suffering a range of debilitating conditions, such as chronic pain, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

“It is critical that both government and workplace policies reflect contemporary, health-led approaches to occupational health and safety.

“The inquiry heard that workers in a diverse range of sectors have been sacked or disciplined even though they were not affected or impaired by medicinal cannabis, they just had tiny traces of cannabinoid chemicals in their system.”

Legalise Cannabis this year campaigned to change driving laws so that medicinal cannabis patients would have a legal defence if they failed a roadside drug test.

“We are also concerned that medicinal cannabis patients are unfairly treated at work, that’s why Legalise Cannabis Victoria moved the referral in Parliament to have the Legal and Social Issues Committee hold an inquiry into workplace drug testing,” Mr Ettershank said.