Medical marijuana allowed in Philippines, Tito Sotto says

MANILA, Philippines — The use of marijuana for medical purposes has long been allowed in the country under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced yesterday.

Sotto said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives an average of 50 applications every month for “compassionate” use of cannabis for cancer treatment.

He said the FDA granted 1,141 applications in 2016 and 2017.

Sotto said lawmakers are pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana after 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray supported the use of cannabis for treatment of illnesses.

“There is no need for new measures allowing the medical use of marijuana,” he said.

Sotto authored the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

“Catriona Gray is in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical use, but not for recreational use. That’s under the law, although there is a process,” he said.

Under the law, Sotto said the FDA allows the use of medical marijuana if the patient’s attending physician would get a permit from the agency.

Last year, the FDA received an average of 50 applications a month for special permits, mostly for cancer treatment.

In 2016, 558 of the 565 applications were approved by the FDA, Sotto said.

He said some lawmakers were not aware of the provisions of RA 9165.

“It is only a matter of information campaign. Have you heard of anyone arrested by the police for medical use of marijuana? None, because it’s not banned. It’s already legal,” Sotto said.

He said doctors usually prescribe cannabis and not marijuana sticks.

The principal author of the bill allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes expressed elation yesterday over the support given by Gray for his proposal.

“I am heartened by her statement. I hope this will prompt more of my colleagues in Congress to support my proposal and for the House of Representatives to approve it soon,” Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said.

Albano said House Bill 6517 “is on second-reading stage and hopefully, it will be passed before the end of the 17th Congress.”

He said while there is no counterpart bill in the Senate, Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who chairs the committee on health, is willing to push for a similar measure.

During the interview portion of the Miss Universe pageant, Gray said she is for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes but not for recreation.

President Duterte has expressed the same stand on medical marijuana.

Albano said it is time that a decision is made on the issue “based on evidence.”

“Around the globe, controlled clinical trials assessed the safety and efficacy of marijuana and its naturally occurring compounds, proving the therapeutic and palliative effects of cannabis. Twenty-seven countries have legalized medical cannabis and 33 states in America, plus Washington DC, have passed laws legalizing medical cannabis,” he said.

He said his proposed Philippine Compassionate and Medical Cannabis Act “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.” 

It would be available only to qualified patients with identification cards issued by the Department of Health after licensed doctors have made a full assessment of their medical history and current medical conditions and who will provide follow-up care, Albano added. 

He pointed out that medical marijuana can only be bought in hospital-based centers.

“Bill 6517 does not decriminalize the use of cannabis or marijuana. Neither does the bill allow smoking. This is not about the recreational use of marijuana. What it seeks is a limited and narrow exception to the country’s criminal and civil laws to allow a physician to recommend medical cannabis to patients with serious and debilitating medical conditions,” he stressed.

Albano said the bill does not amend or in any way contravene Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The House committee on health has endorsed Albano’s medical marijuana bill. 

Advocates for legalization of medical marijuana commended Gray for supporting their cause.

“We thank you for supporting our advocacy with your statement on medical cannabis,” the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society said in a statement.      

“Accessing medical cannabis is a right of every patient. Beyond compassion, it is the basic tenet of human rights,” the group added.

‘Multi-disciplinary study’

The Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained that any proposal to legalize marijuana for medical use should undergo a multi-disciplinary study by experts in the field of medicine.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said they could not be the sole competent authority to make recommendations on whether to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana, stressing it is best to consult medical professionals.

“This can be best addressed by a multi-disciplinary study, possibility with the Department of Health taking the lead,” he said.

What they can contribute, according to Albayalde, is provide inputs on the enforcement aspect of regulatory laws.

Albayalde stressed that medicinal marijuana should come only in the form of pharmaceutical preparation derived from certain active ingredients and not in its raw form.

In the absence of an enabling law, marijuana, its derivative substances and products remain prohibited under RA 9165.   –  With Jess Diaz, Mayen Jaymalin, Emmanuel Tupas