The Queensland government has flagged a relaxation of the state’s illicit drug possession laws, in a move that has been welcomed by health groups.

Under the proposed laws, people caught with small amounts of the illicit drugs would receive a warning for a first offence.

Brisbane Live sought out advice from an expert in the potent drug fentanyl, which has wreaked havoc across the US.

Professor Suzanne Nielsen from Monash University explained it’s a potent opioid that is also available as a medicine.

“Part of the reason we are so worried about fentanyl is because it has been sold as an illicit drug and it’s often sold with other drugs [and] we don’t know the dosage in there, and that’s part of the reason we have seen so many deaths in the US,” she said.

“People don’t even know they are using fentanyl they might not be used to using a strong opioid, it can be sold with cocaine and that makes it very dangerous.”

Press PLAY below to hear her explain more, and her thoughts on the proposed law