Benambra MP Bill Tilley said it was “imperative” the two states shared their information on the controversial subject, while Albury MP Greg Aplin said it would be “sensible” given the region’s cross-border health arrangements.

Their statements came after reports at the weekend that Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy confirmed she would be seeking Victorians to take part in medicinal cannabis trials, which will be run by NSW Health.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said in December the state would run three trials aimed at controlling epilepsy, end-of-life pain and chemotherapy-related nausea, at a cost of about $9 million.

Queensland has also jumped on board, meaning the two Labor governments will work with their Liberal counterparts on the issue.

Mr Aplin said a common trial for NSW and Victoria made sense, “particularly if both governments are on the same page”.

It would also simplify matters on the Border should the states end up legislating for medicinal marijuana, Mr Aplin said.

Cross-border anomalies could arise if one state legislated for it while the other did not, but that was potentially less likely with a common trial.

“For example, Albury-Wodonga Health may well be an administrator of such a program if it becomes law, but they are operated by Victoria,” he said.

Mr Tilley added the federal government would most probably also be keenly interested in the states’ results.

“It’s imperative the information gained is shared so we can determine the best clinical outcomes,” he said.

Both MPs stressed the trial centred around medicinal use only, which needed to be strictly controlled to see if there were benefits for patients.

The trials are for cannabis oil, which is taken orally and does not have the active ingredient responsible for the “high” of recreational marijuana users.

“Let’s not mistake this for some carte blanche approval for taking cannabis by smoking or other means,” Mr Tilley said.

“It’s a very specific use and a very specific type (of cannabis).”

Mr Aplin said any medicinal use would be “a controlled situation”.