By Glaiza Salanio

The bill to legalize medical marijuana in the Philippines moved forward in the Senate on Tuesday, February 28, after 13 senators signed Senate Bill No. 2573, which is included in Committee Report No. 210 by the Senate committees on Health and Demography, on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, and on Finance.

The “Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines,” or SB 2573, is now eligible to be sponsored for discussion in the Senate plenary.

The bill was first signed by its principal author, Senator Robin Padilla, along with its subcommittee involved in the proposal, Senators Bong Go, Sonny Angara, and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. 

Senators JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Grace Poe, Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also approved the report.

Go, Villar, and Revilla signed with reservations, while Poe, Villanueva, Pimentel, and Estrada signed but said they would interpellate.

The Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines

Patients who have been diagnosed by a physician to have a disabling medical condition and may benefit therapeutically or palliatively from using medical cannabis were considered qualified for its usage.

“The state shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Pursuant thereto, the state shall legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis, which has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses for known debilitating medical conditions,” the bill declared.

The proposal also stated that cannabis can be used medicinally “to treat or alleviate a qualified patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptoms.”

“The medicalization of cannabis includes its acquisition, possession, transportation, delivery, dispensing, administration, cultivation, or manufacturing by private individuals or entities only for medical and research purposes,” the bill read.

The Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority, or PMCA, would be created under the Department of Health (DOH), which would serve as the main regulatory agency for the usage and availability of medical cannabis as well as the act’s implementation.

The proposed bill also covered exemptions from civil and criminal liability; prohibited acts; grounds for revocation of a prescription; testing of cannabis; cultivation, production, and manufacturing of cannabis; as well as penalties for violating the proposed measure.

Opposition

Meanwhile, earlier in February, a joint panel in the House of Representatives passed a similar measure.

However, many societal sectors and medical professionals opposed this suggestion, worrying that it would pave the way for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

“We want to educate the public [about the dangers of marijuana]. We want to stop [our lawmakers from their proposed law to legalize medical marijuana]. Our lawmakers have a moral and legal responsibility to safeguard [the well-being of the public],” health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon expressed.

Leachon also warned that the country might become “the Colombia of Southeast Asia,” implying the Latin American state that is the leading producer of cocaine in the world.

Thumbnail from The Philippine Star