Former police commander and Independent member for Windermere Ivan Dean said pill testing was "complex" and there were still many unanswered questions.

"The jury is still out and I worry it could be dangerous in some circumstances," Mr Dean said.

"If the test involves just scraping the pill we don't know what's inside it.

"What happens if a pill is tested and it shows it's clear and then it kills someone. What's the liability there?"

Some lawyers are also worried that pill testing may give a false sense of security and if a person died after testing there would be legal ramifications.

An eight point motion by Independent member for Murchison Ruth Forrest - to be debated in the Upper House on August 13 - calls on the Tasmanian government to trial pill testing during the 2019-20 summer festival season.

The government has opposed pill testing.

Australian Medical Association Tasmanian president Professor John Burgess said pill testing needed to be "evidence based".

"AMA Tasmania supports sanctioned, appropriately supervised, and monitored high-quality pill testing trials as a harm minimisation strategy," Professor Burgess said.

"While we don't condone the use of recreational drugs, if pill testing can save lives of young people about to engage in risky drug taking behaviour, then it will have served its purpose.

"However, we need to build an evidence base to determine the effectiveness of pill testing in Australia, before we think it should become a part of every music festival or other event as it may have other negative affects which are at this stage not clearly understood."

Mr Dean said he would be guided by the police on whether to support the motion.

"Certainly pill testing needs to be brought out in the open but crikey we need to be careful," he said.

"These pills are illegal drugs so what do police do if they see people with these pills?

"They can't stand back, they can't condone it. They can't say 'ok it's illegal but you go for it'."

Ms Forrest said pill testing was not "completely foolproof" and the dangers of taking pills would be explained to festival goers when they were tested.

"It is not a panacea, there is no safe way to take illegal drugs and people would always be told of the inherent dangers," she said.

Pill testing advocate and Australian Lawyers Alliance criminal justice spokesman Greg Barns said they may be "scope for civil liability" if pill testing was not done professionally.

"At present music festival organisers are leaving themselves wide open to be sued because there is not a chance in hell they can stop drugs coming into festivals," Mr Barns said.

"This is about harm minimisation. No-one suggests it is a cure-all but pill testing reduces the likelihood of harm and death."

Law Society of Tasmania president Evan Hughes said pill testing was a health issue and the society would not "dabble in the debate".

Mr Barns pointed to research in Australia and overseas showing patrons at music festivals supported pill testing.

"Pill testing is commonplace in Europe and evidence supporting its value is well documented," he said.

"It stands to reason that if you create a harm minimisation strategy if will minimise harm.

"There have been instances of young people taking pills rather than being caught by police and getting into trouble."

Greens spokeswoman Dr Rosalie Woodruff said she was pleased with Ms Forrest's motion.

The Greens tried unsuccessfully to get a pill testing trial.

Dr Woodruff said she hoped Labor "will stay true to its own party policy" and support Ms Forrest's motion.

"The health experts have been astoundingly clear on this - pill testing at festivals saves live," she said.

A study last year published in the Drug and Alcohol Review journal which surveyed people entering New York nightclubs and music festivals showed more than half would be less likely to use ecstasy if they thought pills "contained methamphetamines or bath salts".