Which politicians admitted to using cannabis? PM pleads the 'fifth'

This comes as New South Wales parliament debated cannabis use after a drug reform bill was introduced.

Up to six cannabis plants would be grown for personal use under the proposed law and it would be legal to carry 50 grams of the drug.

Legalise Cannabis Party MLC Jeremy Buckingham illustrated his point by pulling a bud of his medical cannabis from his pocket in NSW parliament saying "what's to be afraid of?"

He joins a long list of politicians willing to speak about their cannabis use. Though some leaders have been more forthcoming than others.

New England MP Barnaby Joyce said he had tried cannabis but did not support its promotion as a medicinal substance.

"If you want to pull a few cones knock yourself out, god knows I did when I was at uni," he said in 2019.

"But that does not mean for one second that there is some grand elixir," he said in response to the drugs use by cancer patients.

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said she tried cannabis "a long, long time ago".

"I think we (should) come to these questions with an honest answer and not obfuscate," Ms Allan said.

Victorian leader of the opposition John Pesutto admitted the same saying to 3AW that he was "not proud of it, but I tried it" three times while at university.

Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas said he has tried marijuana and supports a health-led approach to laws governing use of the drug.

"I suppose I should declare I have used [it] and I don't think a criminal approach to this is best. A health approach would be best," he said on November 30.

"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself about what revenue might be available, or indeed whether there is a change in policy at all," he said.

ACT chief minister Andrew Barr said he once ate a pot brownie.

Federal minister Bill Shorten coyly admitted he "might have done something" while at university but said his views had changed and he sees the drug as "actually very dangerous".

Former prime minister Julia Gillard said in 2008 that she had tried the drug during her university years and "didn't like it".

"I think probably many Australian adults would be able to make the same statement so I don't think it matters one way or the other."

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had "smoked pot" but viewed the decision as a mistake in 2008.

"I think now, with what we know about marijuana, I think it is a very serious drug and it is a drug that we should strongly discourage everybody, be they young or old, but obviously particularly young people, from using."

Former prime minister Tony Abbott confessed to taking a "half-hearted puff".

"I will admit when I was younger that I tried marijuana three times - I was really spaced out of my head," senator Pauline Hanson said during a panel discussion on The Verdict in 2015.

"If you put me in a car and I had to drive, well...."