Speaking at a forum in Hobart on Wednesday, the association’s secretary John Reeves said the state government should implement recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry released last year that urged protections for users against criminal charges be put in place.

Mr Reeves, who describes cannabis oil as ‘‘guerilla medicine’’, said an exemption system would lead to a true picture of how many Tasmanians were using the plant, which he said could be up to the thousands.

‘‘What that will allow to happen is that you can count everybody who has registered with their doctors and can start to build up an honest conversation about all this,’’ he said.

‘‘No one has got any doubt that alcohol, tobacco or sugar kills more people than pot,’’ he said.

The state government has said it won’t rush into following Victoria and legalise medical use, but will take a scientific approach.

Franklin Labor MHR Julie Collins said the state government’s ‘‘failure to show compassion’’ made federal leadership on the issue crucial.

‘‘The federal government needs to work to ensure medicinal cannabis users are not treated as criminals, and to regulate the supply of medicinal cannabis now,’’ Ms Collins said.

‘‘We’ve heard clear evidence that many Tasmanians are already using products like hemp oil to effectively treat a range of conditions including chronic pain, cancer treatment induced nausea and epileptic fits,’’ she said.

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said it was a ‘‘ridiculous situation’’.

‘‘There are Tasmanians right now who are knowingly engaging in criminal activities by procuring, administering and using cannabis for medicinal properties,’’ Ms O’Connor said.

‘‘It is time the Tasmanian government got with the program and legalised cannabis for medicinal purposes on the grounds of compassion and common sense,’’ she said.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the Liberals were taking a ‘‘strategic, compassionate and national approach’’ to the issue and would continue to work with New South Wales on a research trial.