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Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte has asked Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa to help push for the legalization of medical cannabis or marijuana. 

This, Villafuerte learned this straight from Herbosa during the latter's recent confirmation hearing before the Commission on Appointments (CA) that we also wants medical cannabis to be legalized. 

“We are in favor of the legalization of medical use of marijuana and its products, your honor,” Herbosa said. Villafuerte sits as majority leader of the powerful CA. 

“Thank you for saying that. I’m very happy because I strongly advocate this. Over 60 countries all over the world have already legalized medical cannabis," the Bicol solon said during the hearing. 

"And I don’t know why the Philippines is delaying this. What do the 60 countries know that we don’t? The only news that I have read from these 60 countries is that (medical cannabis) is very beneficial, and, secondly, their revenues have increased (from its medical use),” he said. 

He noted that the United States' Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has already approved medicines that contain cannabis, such as Epidiolex, Sativex, Sinemet and Marinol. “So right now there are hundreds of patents being applied regarding this, with the top pharmaceutical companies applying for patents for cannabis. They probably know something we don’t.”  

“I am thus appealing to the DOH to study this, and, if you support it, push for it,” Villafuerte told Herbosa.  

Villafuerte noted that he has never heard any deaths from medical marijuana overdose or an increase in crimes because of it. 

“So I am very happy to hear that is your (Herbosa) stand because during past congressional discussions on the legalization of medical cannabis, DOH representatives strongly opposed the legalization of medical cannabis,” he said.