Former president and now Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has renewed the call for legalization of the use of cannabis, or marijuana for medical purposes in the Philippines.
In refiling House Bill No. 7817 or the "Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act", Arroyo cited that legalizing marijuana will benefit "thousands of patients suffering from serious and debilitating disease".
"Its objective is for the patient to have access to safe, affordable, available medical cannabis prescribed by a registered physician in cases where cannabis has been found to be effective in prevention, treatment, and management of specified symptoms, illnesses, and diseases," she said.
Arroyo also pointed out that the use of cannabis for medical purposes has been stipulated in both international and national law.
The Senior Deputy Speaker, however, clarified that the proposed measure "should not be deemed in any manner to advocate, authorized, promote, or legally or socially accept the use of cannabis or marijuana for any non-medical use."
According to Arroyo only qualified medical cannabis patient who has been diagnosed with the following debilitating diseases shall be allowed to use cannabis:
- cancer
- glaucoma
- multiple sclerosis
- damage the nervous system of the spinal cord
- epilepsy,
- positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- rheumatoid arthritis or similar chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorders
- diseases requiring admission into hospice care
- any other medical condition identified by the Department of Health
Once HB No. 7817, is enacted, Arroyo proposed the creation of a Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee which will "assist and provide directions in the formulation, implementation, and assessment of the policies, guidelines, and regulations under this Act".
The committee will be headed by the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) while the members will come from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Other members are three health practitioners, two experts in the regulation of controlled substances for medical use, and two representatives from a nationally recognized organization of patients with debilitating medical conditions.
In 2019, Arroyo principally authored House Bill No. 6517 or the proposed “Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act”.
