THE Cebu City Police Office is against the legalization of marijuana if the proposal in Congress to allow the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is passed.
In a report last month, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, a member of the House minority bloc, said marijuana has many medicinal properties, which is the reason behind his filing a bill legalizing it. However, he said Congress still has to study the matter.
Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo also supports the proposal as long as marijuana is only used for medicinal purposes, and guidelines involving its sale are strictly implemented.
Last Jan. 1, Colorado was the latest American state to legalize marijuana.
City Intelligence Branch (CIB) Chief Romeo Santander said that based on previous incidents, marijuana is one of the reasons heinous crimes are committed.
Negative effects
If marijuana is legalized, he said, they are not in the position to question Congress.
However, he said they will have a hard time implementing limitations on its use.
As a member of a law enforcement agency, Santander said it will be better if marijuana remains banned.
“We will be following whatever amendments and directives the country has. We are not in the position to question the law-giving body, but I hope they will consider the negative effects if it will be implemented,” he said.
If marijuana is legalized, selling and distributing it should be properly controlled, he said.
In Cebu City, marijuana is popular in mountainous areas.
Santander said they have not found any marijuana plantation in the city, but if legalized it may be found everywhere.
Mairjuana is still a prohibited substance under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
Santander said a man who was allegedly high on marijuana hacked a woman to pieces in Talisay City in 2008.
“Downer man gud ni ang marijuana (Marijuana is a downer). So you will not be in the clear state of mind when you use this,” he said.