The Australian Medical Association has distanced itself from a new relaxed drugs approach being pushed by the Greens, saying it underestimates the harm illicit drugs do to the community.

Association president Michael Gannon told Fairfax Media he welcomed any initiative that shifted the public conversation about illicit drugs towards rehabilitation and treatment instead of policing and the justice system.

But he said he was "wary" of any push towards decriminalising illicit drugs, including cannabis.

"We should not underestimate the harm that illicit drugs do everyday in our community," Dr Gannon said on Sunday.

Fairfax Media revealed on Sunday the Greens had overhauled their drugs policy in the hope it would reopen the decriminalisation debate and lead to the legalisation of some recreational drugs.

The party abandoned its blanket opposition to the legalisation of illicit drugs in its policy platform after members voted to support changes driven by leader Richard Di Natale at their national conference in Perth on Saturday....