A gathering of medicinal marijuana experts has heard the NSW Government is moving "as quickly as it can with trials" as audience members expressed disappointment with the speed of progress for the "lifesaving" drug.

Key facts International experts share benefits of medical marijuana at Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in Sydney

International experts share benefits of medical marijuana at Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in Sydney Parents of girl living with epilepsy, cancer patients among those who shared their stories

Parents of girl living with epilepsy, cancer patients among those who shared their stories Premier says the Government may extend state trials to non-terminal patients

NSW Premier Mike Baird has opened the Medicinal Cannabis Symposium in Western Sydney, on the back of NSW clinical trials of cannabis for severe childhood epilepsy, terminal illnesses and chemotherapy-induced suffering.

On Saturday, Mr Baird also said the Government was looking at the possibility of extending access to the drug to non-terminal patients.

Daniel Haslem, who died from terminal cancer, campaigned for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis.

The Premier said Mr Haslem made his wishes clear to him in a meeting before he died.

"There are some meetings that change your life forever and that was one of those," Mr Baird told the audience.

The symposium was run by United in Compassion, an organisation set up by Daniel Haslem's mother, Lucy Haslem.

Ms Haslem said the focus was now on educating Australian doctors about the drug's medicinal benefits.

Ms Haslem said one of the biggest hurdles to the program were misconceptions about the benefits of medicinal cannabis.

'I don't know what I'd do without the oil'

Speaking at the event, Michael Lambert said his daughter Kate suffered from a rare epilepsy

Central Coast father Michael Lambert gives medicinal cannabis to his daughter Katelyn who has Dravet Syndrome. ( ABC North Coast: Samantha Turnbull )

"We have to grow cannabis and give our daughter cannabis," he said.

"Would you break the law to prevent your daughter being permanently brain damaged? Of course you would."

"I grow the plant. It's easy to make."

Ben Oakely, 20, has been taking cannabis oil for a year as an aid to Stiff Body Syndrome.

"Honestly I don't know where I would be without the oil. I hate to imagine it because I came very close to death," he said.

I've had close to 600 spasms, and every spasm is life threatening. The oil has saved my life."

Jeers for Premier, who defends pace of progress

Mr Baird said the Government was now carrying out a review of guidelines underpinning the current Terminal Illness Cannabis Scheme, which allows access to cannabis for adults with a terminal illness.

He said the Government would look at "extending access to non-terminal patients, to children with severe epilepsy and other cases where we think access should be provided."

The Government has pledged $21 million to trials which are "already coming in a way that I think is very positive" Mr Baird said.

NSW Premier Mike Baird, meets Ben Oakley, who takes cannabis oil to treat Stiff Body Syndrome. ( ABC News: David Spicer )

It has been required to import the cannabis-based drugs from Canadian and British pharmaceutical companies, but has now applied to the federal Government for a licence to grow cannabis for medical research trials.

Earlier this year the Federal Parliament passed laws legalising the cultivation of medical marijuana with states like Victoria and New South Wales making moves down that path.

Victoria has already legalised medicinal cannabis.

But critics have said the State Government was still dragging its heels, and there were jeers from some members of the audience as the Premier spoke.

He told the crowd the Government was doing all it could, as fast as it could.

"I know that some won't agree with that but I can assure you with everything I have, and every resource in government, we are doing everything we can to move as quickly as we can," he said.