Concerns over medicinal cannabis use

There are fears a move to legalise the use of cannabis for pain relief will bypass regulators and place patients at risk.

The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine is concerned a private bill, proposed by the Australian Greens, will allow medicinal cannabis to escape scrutiny from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

More medical research was needed to ascertain the exact dosages needed for relief of pain, Dr Maureen Mitchell told a Senate inquiry hearing in Canberra on Monday.

But she said she wasn't completely opposed to medicinal cannabis use.