By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Robin Padilla continues to push the legalization of medical marijuana in the country to allow qualified patients to receive therapeutic and palliative benefits from medical cannabis.
“Ang inihahain pong batas ng inyong lingkod ay hango sa pag-aaral, pagsasaliksik, testimonya ng mga doktor at eksperto mula sa iba’t-ibang panig ng daigdig na may sapat na kaalaman at best practices sa pagpapatupad nito,” Padilla said in his sponsorship speech on Wednesday (20 March 2024).
Senate Bill No. 2572 or the proposed Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines will legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
“Ang kwalipikadong pasyente po ay isang tao na na-diagnose ng sertipikadong doktor na may debilitating medical condition, at maaaring makatanggap ng therapeutic at palliative benefits mula sa cannabis base sa kanyang sariling pasya,” Padilla said.
“Binibigyang-linaw po natin na ang medical cannabis ay complementary treatment na isasabay sa mga gamot na sadyang ginagamit na ng isang pasyente,” the senator added.
Under the proposed measure, the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority would be established under the Department of Health.
This authority would be responsible for crafting a Comprehensive Cannabis Medicalization Plan, establishing regulations for the medical use of cannabis, implementing a monitoring and regulating system for medical cannabis, and issuing licenses for registered entities within the medical cannabis industry.
(el Amigo/MNM)
ACCORDING to a recent survey conducted by the independent think tank Capstone-Intel Corp, the majority of Filipinos support the legalization of medical marijuana.
The study, carried out from August 1 to 10, revealed that 63 percent of the 1,205 respondents are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, provided that proponents conduct more research and establish strict policy guidelines for access and dosage control.
Respondents also emphasized the importance of increased awareness and education about medical marijuana.
In contrast, 37 percent of respondents were against legalization. The survey also found that 38 percent of participants believed that legalizing medical marijuana could offer a potential solution for patients who haven’t found success with conventional treatments.
Meanwhile, 29 percent neither agreed nor disagreed with this statement, and 24 percent agreed that medical marijuana legalization could bring relief to such patients.
Furthermore, 49 percent of respondents called for further research and reviews to explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of using cannabis for medical purposes. The study also indicated that 35 percent of respondents strongly supported the regulation of medical marijuana to ensure its quality, safety, and proper dosage control, with an additional 30 percent expressing agreement with this statement.
The push for the legal use of medical marijuana has gained momentum in Congress, with Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Pampanga, 2nd District) and Sen. Robin Padilla leading the charge. Arroyo has collaborated with former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in advocating for the use and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, as evidenced by their filing of House Bill 7817. (Jr. Amigo/ai/mnm)