Premier Campbell Newman remains “sympathetic” on the issue of medical marijuana, but he said his view on whether it should be legalised would be based on information from the National Health and Medical Research Council – not another state.

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has raised hopes he could be considering a move to legalise cannabis in situations where it was deemed medically beneficial.

The mother of Daniel Haslam, a 24-year-old who has terminal cancer, told the ABC that Premier Baird had offered his support on the issue. The Haslams’ local member, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson, is expected to table a private member’s bill in the NSW parliament on the issue in the next three weeks.

In a statement to the ABC, Mr Baird said he was “sympathetic to the views of the Haslam family and others who believe medical marijuana can be of great assistance to those affected by debilitating or life threatening illnesses”.

But he said any solution would need to address “concerns in relation to supply and regulation”.

Mr Newman, who has previously addressed the issue when his MP Jason Woodforth raised it earlier this year, said his own view remained unchanged.

“The National Health and Medical Research Council are the ones we will take notice of,” he said.

“I have said that we have great sympathy. I have pretty much echoed what Mike Baird has said, but I’d be interested in what the NHMRC is saying.”

But Mr Newman said his mind remained open.

“And we should have an open mind,” he said.

“There are so many of our lifesaving and pain relieving drugs that come from nature, of course they do, and I just see it in that context.

“But we need to see what the NHMRC are saying.”