A forum of drug experts in Hobart has been told cannabis is a health issue, not a criminal one.

Tasmania's Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council is trying to stimulate debate on cannabis decriminalisation as it prepares for its annual conference later this week.

At a roundtable in Hobart, the former Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Palmer, said drug policing has not made a difference.

"Drug use and possession really is not a law enforcement issue, it's essentially a health issue," said Mr Palmer.

"It makes no sense to me that we lock up young men and women for possession or use of cannabis, create huge employment difficulties for them going forward, sometimes visa and travel problems when we're only arresting some 3 per cent of users in this country.

"To deal with that as a criminal matter seems to me to be counterproductive."

It is currently illegal to possess, smoke or supply cannabis in Australia.

Decriminalisation would not legalise the drug legal, but would remove criminal charges as a punishment.

The use and possession of cannabis comprises 60 per cent of all drug-related arrests Australia.

Experts question the success of 'war on drugs'

Addiction specialist Dr Alex Wodak told the forum it is hard to identify the benefits of banning marijuana.

"It's very clear now that the war on drugs has been an expensive failure, it's made a bad problem even worse," he said.

Jann Smith from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council thinks the decriminalisation debate should be reignited and there is an opportunity for Tasmania to take a lead.

"I think that there is a real potential for us to look at cost savings from taking the issue of cannabis use out of the court system into the health system," she said.

A number of jurisdictions around the world have already legalised or softened their stance on the drug.

Drug experts are preparing a report on the implications of decriminalising cannabis to take to Tasmanian legislators.

The Australian Christian Lobby says the push is concerning.

Its Tasmanian Director, Mark Brown, says the experts should also look at the Swedish approach to illicit drugs.

"The Swedish model makes drug rehabilitation mandatory for those found addicted and strong policing of street selling," he said.