Western Region Drug and Alcohol (WRAD) centre director Geoff Soma said that for years there had been many attempts to contain cannabis use and it hadn’t worked.

“Surely as a mature society we’re able to trial some controlled use and look at the research around legalised cannabis,” Mr Soma said.

“A trial that can be controlled by the government and we look at the results objectively before going forward. Lets look at it.

“We know alcohol causes a lot of harm and that we have some research similar to cannabis.”

Mr Soma said the “Say No” to drugs campaign had not worked and it was time to look at other options. He said the criminal justice system was filled with alcohol and drug related issues and surely some cases were worth looking at an alternative method.

Mr Soma’s comments came after a presentation at WRAD’s It’s About You conference in Warrnambool yesterday.

Speaking at the conference was Michael Lynskey, a Professor of Addictions in the National Addictions Centre at King’s College London.

Mr Lynskey said laws were changing around the world, including Colorado legalising the drug for recreational use in 2012, so it was plausible Australian voters would soon be asked to consider legalising cannabis.

Mr Lynskey said it was important to look at cannabis use from a social justice issue and the stigma for cannabis users.

He said dependency and respiratory problems were some of the greatest harms for users.

During his presentation, Mr Lynskey said there was evidence that suggested people who used cannabis at a young age were at no more of an increased risk of using other illicit drugs than those who used tobacco and alcohol.

He said what is happening in Colorado was different to other parts of the world with the US state allowing the commercial provision of cannabis.

He said people can buy cannabis for recreation purposes and they are taxed on it.

“It was sold to voters very much as it would reduce costs in the criminal justice system,” he said.

He said Colorado was getting $10 million a month from taxation on cannabis products.

Mr Lynskey said it was likely Colorado would eventually see a reduction in price and an increase in availability.

“I would expect more people will use the drug. People who use will probably use it more frequently on average and problems may or may not increase.”

Mr Lynskey said it was hoped the changes may reduce barriers for those seeking help.

The state government yesterday reiterated it had no intention of legalising marijuana.

Last year while in opposition the government said it would seek advice from the Victorian Law Reform Commission on medical cannabis, so it can be used to treat people in exceptional circumstances. Its terms of reference for the commission would specifically rule out legalising marijuana for recreational use.