Tasmania’s health minister supports trials of medicinal cannabis in the state, he has told a parliamentary inquiry.

The shift in the Liberal government’s stance came after Health Minister Michael Ferguson rejected a bid for a trial in the state in July, raising health and security concerns.

An upper house committee is examining legalised medicinal cannabis and the government has made its submission.

“We support appropriately conducted clinical trials, feeding into the existing national medicines regulatory framework,” Mr Ferguson said in a statement.

“We will objectively consider any proposal regarding a trial of medicinal cannabis on a case-by-case basis.”

Mr Ferguson says the government supports the potential use of medicinal cannabis, but it must be subject to an evidence-based approach and strong regulatory frameworks.

“This is a complex issue that requires research and evidence,” he said.

“We are not going to put the cart before the horse as Labor and the Greens would have us do, compromising the safety of Tasmanians by making this a political decision rather than a medical one.”