Speaking from Brisbane today, Turnbull said an incoming government scheme would enable licensed Australian growers to cultivate plants for medicinal use, but for the moment patients were effectively buying products on the black market.

He said an amnesty would be irresponsible because there were no controls over medicines bought outside official channels.

Two women in NSW had recently been hospitalised because the strength of the cannabis they bought was too high, he said.

“The Department of Health is concerned that patients are treating themselves with a powerful medicine sourced from the illicit market,” he said.

“There are no controls over the safety and quality of medicines bought in this way.”

Turnbull’s rejection of the amnesty followed another call by LNP defector Steve Dickson on Tuesday for politicians to put people before politics.

“Is the law above saving a kid’s life? I don’t think it is,” he told ABC Radio.

Dickson on Friday announced he had quit the LNP and joined Hanson’s One Nation party.

The state Member for Buderim said medicinal cannabis was one of the primary reasons he decided to jump ship.

“I’ve had one politician in this country come out and back me 100 per cent and that’s Senator Pauline Hanson,” he said.

“She rang the office and said what can I do to help?”

In early January, SA Police raided the home of Hillier woman Jenny Hallam who has been providing cannabis oil free of charge to ill people around Australia.

– with AAP