TERRITORY pot smokers could be let off the hook to allow police to focus on harder drugs if Minister Dave Tollner has his way.

Mr Tollner told MIX 104.9 there had been “informal” discussions among the parliamentary team about decriminalising the drug for recreational use.

“I’d just be interested to know what effect it would have, decriminalising marijuana – ie making a whole heap of people who do smoke dope, making them sort of almost legal and chasing down the hard drugs, because while you’ve got such a proportion of the population smoking dope, they’re very unlikely to dob in ice dealers,” he said yesterday morning.

Mr Tollner said he believed Territorians were not as concerned about the issue of marijuana as they were about ice usage and he indicated the Government would look into legalising pot for medical use.

“I’d be interested to know what people think about the legalising of medical standard marijuana, the decriminalising of marijuana and the absolute ramping up of penalties and policing around ice,” he said.

Last August, former Health Minister Robyn Lambley said she would be bringing the issue of legal medical marijuana to cabinet for investigation but cautioned against decriminalising the substance.

“The only way we would support marijuana use is for medical purposes under a highly regulated regime,” she said at the time.

“We don’t want to send a message to people, particularly in communities where marijuana is a problem, that we in any way support that so we have to tread very carefully.”

Mr Tollner was more cavalier.

“I think the fact that we are embarking on that sort of medicinal drug growing program (with poppy production) makes the Territory look like it’s open for business with medical marijuana,” he said.

Chief Minister Adam Giles backed Mr Tollner’s idea, supporting the NSW government’s medical trials.

“NT Government has sought to provide support in this area and will liaise with NSW Government to see how we can actively participate,” Mr Giles said.

Banyan House CEO Chris Frank welcomed the discussion around decriminalising medical and recreational marijuana, but said more research was needed into the long-term effects before making any decisions.

“Decriminalising marijuana will not translate into the capacity to put additional resources into ice,” he said.