3 Cebu, 3 Davao lawmakers say yes to medical marijuana

SunStar File Photo
SunStar File Photo

THREE Cebuano lawmakers voted "yes" to the bill legalizing and regulating marijuana.

Cebu Representatives Wilfredo Caminero (Second District), Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. (First District), and Peter John Calderon (Seventh District) voted in the affirmative, while Representatives Raul Del Mar (Cebu City, First District) and Ramon “Red” Durano (Fifth District) voted "no" to the measure.

Representatives Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City, Second District), Gwendolyn Garcia (Third District), Behur Salimbangon (Fourth District), Jonas Cortes (Sixth District), and Aileen Radaza (Lapu-Lapu City, Lone District) were not able to vote or were absent when the voting on the measure was conducted last Tuesday, January 29.

Durano said he voted "no" because he fears the law might open the floodgates for the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana.

In Davao City, only three out of the nine representatives voted "yes" for the legalization of marijuana.

They were Jericho Nograles, the caretaker of Davao City First District; Davao del Norte Second District Representative Floirendo Antonio Jr.; and Davao Occidental Lone District Representative Lorna Bautista-Bandigan.

The rest were absent when the House of Representatives voted on the bill. Absent were Davao City Second District Representative Mylene Garcia-Albano, Davao City Third District Representative Alberto Ungab, Davao del Norte First District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, Davao del Sur Lone District Representative Mercedes Cagas, Davao Oriental First District Representative Corazon Nuñez Malanyaon, and Davao Oriental Second District Representative Joel Almario.

Voting 163 in favor, 5 against, with 3 abstentions, the House of Representatives approved on Tuesday House Bill 6517, otherwise known as the “Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act.”

Under the proposed law, medical cannabis shall only be accessed through the hospitals duly-licensed by the Department of Health to distribute marijuana and only those who have been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition can avail themselves of it.

The bill penalizes those who will use medical cannabis in any mode of public transportation or in any public place and those under the influence of marijuana who will control any motor vehicle. It likewise penalizes people who will use cannabis for purposes other than treatment.

The measure was authored by Representatives Rodolfo Albano III, Jesulito Manalo, Jose Panganiban, Maximo Rodriguez, Johnny Pimentel, Loma Silverio, Benhur Lopez Jr., Edgar Erice, Micaela Violago, Emmanuel Billones, and Jose Christopher Belmonte, among others.

President Rodrigo Duterte has suppored the move to legalize medical marijuana. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said, "That's good for those who are sick. The President has always said that he is in support of marijuana being used as a healing mechanism or medicine." (Keith A. Calayag/SunStar Philippines/EOB)

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