A number of Canberra politicians have admitted using illegal drugs at some point in their lives after ACT Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury said he had taken MDMA, in calling for the New South Wales Premier to introduce pill testing at music festivals in the state.

Key points: Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury says he only tried ecstasy once

Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury says he only tried ecstasy once ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says he once ate a hash brownie

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says he once ate a hash brownie Police Minister Mick Gentleman says he used cannabis in his youth

The Greens politician was the second to say he had tried the drug, after his NSW colleague Cate Faehrmann on Monday admitted to illegal drug use.

Mr Rattenbury said he only tried the drug once, but that it was common for people to experiment.

"I didn't like the effect it had on me, so that's an experience I didn't want to repeat," he said.

"But the reality is people do experiment with these things and they shouldn't die as a result of doing it."

Mr Rattenbury's admission had a knock-on effect, with ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr saying he once ate a hash brownie.

Police Minister Mick Gentleman revealed he had used cannabis in the 70s — though he said he had not taken "modern drugs" and Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur said she "was an ageing hippie from Nimbin", who had "smoked dope", "grown dope" and "taken acid".

Ministers warn more dangerous drugs could enter market

Experts said that in the long term pill testing can influence the market and give paramedics and police important information about what drugs are out in the community. ( boodoo: Flickr )

The admissions came in the wake of a joint letter, from Ms Faehrmann and Mr Rattenbury, calling on NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to consider a trial in the state, after suspected overdoses at Australian musical festivals claimed the lives of six young people this summer.

"There is no silver bullet to addressing the dangers of illicit drugs, but we can listen to the experts who are calling for a health-focused approach to minimising their harms," the letter read.

The letter stated that four in 10 people who tested their drugs at Groovin' The Moo said they would change their behaviour after learning the contents in their pills.

Three quarters of those who brought drugs for testing also received alcohol and other drug counselling from professionals on site.

Ms Faehrmann and Mr Rattenbury also warned that failing to implement pill testing could lead to more dangerous drugs entering the NSW market.

"We have been informed by policy experts … that if NSW does not introduce pill testing there is a significant risk that drug suppliers will respond by supplying higher quality, less dangerous, pills to festivals in the ACT, while offloading lower quality and more dangerous drugs in NSW," the letter stated.

Ms Berejiklian has said previously she believed implementing pill testing would be a "green light" to drug users, but that she would await the results of an inquest into the recent suspected overdoses.

In the meantime, she said, additional paramedics would be sent to three music festivals being held over the coming weekend.

Police Minister hasn't taken 'modern drugs'

ACT Police Minister Mick Gentleman said he had used cannabis in his youth. ( ABC News: Dharshini Sundran )

Mr Gentleman said it was important young people were safe while attending music festivals, referencing the results of a pill testing trial at Groovin The Moo last year — which found potentially lethal chemicals.

"We've seen where some of the components of the pills were quite dangerous," he said.

"That message should go out to the Canberra community and beyond, about ensuring you can have a safe time when you go out to these festivals."

Mr Gentleman also said, while he had tried drugs when he was younger, it could have been just as dangerous for him then as it could for young people now.

"I certainly haven't tried modern drugs, but in the 70s I certainly tried cannabis," he said.

"But that was a time when we all tried different things, that was something in our youth.

"It's good to learn from that, but of course drug taking is dangerous and I encourage most people not to take drugs."

The Government told the ABC it supported pill testing on the basis of evidence, not the personal experiences of ministers.

Opposition 'couldn't care less' Justice Minister took drugs

Shadow ACT Attorney-General Jeremy Hanson said he "couldn't care less" that Mr Rattenbury has taken illicit drugs.

Mr Hanson has repeatedly voiced his opposition to pill testing, and said Mr Rattenbury's admission did not change his view on the issue or on him.

"Something that Mr Rattenbury did in his 20s is really irrelevant to that debate in my view," Mr Hanson said.

"I'm focused on the evidence, the advice, and what we need to do to make sure that we keep young people safe."

