KALINGA Representative Allen Jessie Mangaoang has expressed support for a law giving certain patients access to medical cannabis.
"Yes, for as long as it is controlled,” said Mangaoang, who is also the legislative caretaker of Mountain Province, on Thursday, February 14.
Last month, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill 6517, or the Act Providing Compassionate and Right of Access to Medical Cannabis and Expanding Research into its medicinal properties and for other purposes.
The matter is being discussed in the Senate.
Benguet and Kalinga remain the top sources of marijuana in the Cordillera despite the several measures implemented by authorities to eradicate the plants.
With the illegal weed thriving in the province, road accessibility has been identified by the lawmaker to easily monitor plantation sites.
"You cannot relate the resurgence of marijuana to inaccessibility. Marijuana can be transported not only by road. Marijuana thrives in Kalinga, in the municipality of Tinglayan. In Tinglayan, there is a DOT and DPWH convergence program in Buscalan. But Buscalan is very near to marijuana plantations in Butbut proper, where the marijuana plantation is. If we want to monitor resurgence of marijuana it would be done easily because of accessibility,” said Mangaoang.
Earlier, Benguet officials stressed that marijuana cultivation remains illegal in the province. They also backed plans to legalize medical marijuana.