Parents and carers have appealed for Australian medicinal cannabis trials to encompass patients a broader range of patients.

The $9 million New South Wales trial is open to children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy, and adults who are terminally ill or have chemotherapy-induced illnesses.

The Tasmanian Government said it was cooperating with the program, and that Tasmanians may take part when the trial was underway.

But carer Nicole Cowes, whose daughter Alice has an epileptic condition known as CDKL5, said despite her daughter's severe illness, it was unlikely she would be included in the trial.

"What about everybody else?" she said.

"Everybody needs a treatment, and we shouldn't have to beg to be on trials."

Fellow carer Andrew Irving tends to his wife who has a neurodegenerative condition.

He said either the scope of the trial needed to be broadened, or a separate program needed to take place in Tasmania.

"It needs to be open for all ailments, all ages, male, female. It's not specific to any particular illness," Mr Irving said.

He is also concerned by a proposal to use a placebo in the trial.

"Why would we allow our loved ones to be part of that trial, knowing they may only get sugar?" he said.

"I would prefer to have my wife illegally alive and in good health and pain free, than legally suffering or even dead."

Ms Cowes said there were numerous benefits to medicinal cannabis.

Nicole Cowes administers cannabis oil drops to her daughter Alice. ( ABC News )

Nine-year-old Alice used to suffer up to 30 seizures a day.

She is now only having fits sporadically, or when she gets an infection.

"Intellectually and physically she's developed. She's walking, she's playing, she's trying to run when she gets excited about things," Ms Cowes said.

"Her progress is indescribable. She's much stronger, she's healthier, she doesn't tend to get sick.

"Carers don't want to be law breakers. They don't want to be fighting against our government. They're just looking for a treatment where current treatments don't do the job that they need."

Shadow Attorney-General Lara Giddings urged the Tasmanian government to act on behalf of local patients, rather than relying on a national solution.

"We've heard the platitudes from the State Government now, that they do support trials going ahead, but they're not backing that up with any action whatsoever," she said.

"There's a real risk that this Government is all talk and no action."

Legal ramifications concern carers

Despite the significant network of medicinal cannabis users within Tasmania, several carers are concerned by the legal ramifications of using the medicine.

One carer "Joan" has a daughter with a disability and is considering accessing the drug, but is still worried by the problems it may cause with authorities and her employer.

"When you sit there and watch her silent tears run down her face it's heartbreaking. Where do you go? You do whatever you can for your child," Joan said.

"But why should we have to have the fear of criminal charges for something which is going to be so beneficial?"

Her doubts have been echoed by Mr Irving, who said his nerves have now dissipated, but that was not always the case.

"I used to watch the driveway and expect a police car to roll up," he said.

Earlier this year, the Police Minister Rene Hidding told a budget estimates hearing the government had rejected a parliamentary committee recommendation to legalise the possession of medicinal cannabis.

At the same hearing, Police Commissioner Darren Hine said police had been advised by the Director of Public Prosecutions they were obliged to seize cannabis no matter what the purpose.

But he said police were targeting traffickers and if they did discover medicinal cannabis they did not intend to prosecute the matter.