THE Regional Development and Peace and Order Council (RDC-RPOC) in the Cordillera have given support for the possible use of medical marijuana, provided this be under the full control and regulation of government.
In the fourth quarter meeting of the RDC-RPOC at the Presidential Mansion in Baguio City, acting Department of Health (DOH) Cordillera director Amelita Pangilanan explained a strict regulation by government must be implemented.
“It is only the extracts which will be used wherein this will undergo the process of boiling until it evaporates leaving the extracts. We have to have the technology to get the extracts. If this is being legalized in other countries, this should be regulated for it not to be abused,” Pangilinan said.
Talks on the use of marijuana came out after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s report which indicated the continuing presence of marijuana plantation in the region, aside from the RDC’s reaction to the answer of newly-crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray on the use of medical marijuana.
“It takes a Catriona Gray to answer the questions on medical marijuana. I was so happy that she was for medical marijuana but I do not carry the agencies (DOH) stand but I know there is a study which would be the basis for the policy direction because we are evidence based and there is also this operational research which would be the basis of the policy,” Pangilinan said.
“Just like what Dra. Julie Cabato said, there have been individual patients who tried before the war on drugs by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. They have already cultivated marijuana plants in their backyards because they get the extracts for pain remedies, what someone is guarding for when there are terminal stages of cancer patients and those with COPD(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is the quality of life of a patient, and what they saw was this was very effective in alleviating pain,” she added.
President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo said during press briefing the President will sign any bill that will legalize the use of medical marijuana in the Philippines.
The President favors the use of medical marijuana and will support any legislative measure consistent with his stand.
In September 2017, a House panel approved House Bill No. 6517 or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, which seeks to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
The bill is on second reading, pending before the House of Representatives with its principal author Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano III who said he was pleased with the renewed interest on the topic of legalization.
House Bill 6517 adopts a very strict regulatory framework while at the same time promoting the people's right to health by ensuring affordable and safe access to quality medical cannabis, but does not decriminalize the use of cannabis or marijuana.
Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 states the use of medical marijuana is already legal if used for appropriate medication.