If government can allow the use of "harmful" products like alcoholic beverages, sugary drinks, and cigarettes, then why not cannabis or marijuana?
This was the main argument of Davao del Norte 1st district Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez in his bid to delist cannabis as a form of dangerous drug under Sections 3(j), 11, and 16 of Republic Act (RA) No.9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended.
Alvarez's pitch was embodied in House Bill (HB) No.6783, which the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs took up Tuesday, Feb. 21.
"The classification of cannabis and its derivatives, as a dangerous drug, is b*llsh*t. It makes no sense at all. And we must correct this absurdity," the outspoken former House Speaker said in his sponsorship speech for the bill, which he delivered before the committee.
Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers chairs the panel.
"How many acts of violence, crime, and fatal accidents are attributable to the consumption of alcoholic beverages? How many cases of cancer are caused by the smoking of addictive cigarettes and tobacco products with no health benefits at all? How much does government spend on dialysis due to diabetes, the primary cause of which is the consumption of sugary drinks like Coke and other soft drinks?" Alvarez asked.
"And yet, despite the concrete injury and harm they bring, the government allows for the production and sale of these products. Something is definitely not right," he noted.
The Alvarez bill seeks to remove marijuana and any form or derivative of the substance from the list of dangerous drugs and substances under existing laws.
During the course of the discussion, Alvarez said that his wish was for marijuana to be decriminalized, regulated, and taxed--just like liquor, sugary drinks, and cigarettes.
Asked by a congressman-colleague if he espoused the use of marijuana for recreational purposes, Alvarez replied, "Eventually, wala rin ibang pupuntahan (there's nowhere else for it to go)."
There have also been claims that cannabis have medical value, and related bills have been filed in the House in the past.
Alvarez futher said: "Unlike cigarettes and soft drinks that bring slow but terrible harm to society, cannabis and its derivatives offer other benefits. Many are still being studied and explored. But what is certain is the additional government revenue it will produce."
Alvarez acknowledged that tax revenue is ultimately the reasonable why government allows the consumption of liquor, sugary drinks, and cigarettes. But this can be applied on cannabis, too.
"We can decriminalize cannabis and its derivatives, and we can collect billions worth of taxes from its production and sale. We can use the added revenues to build more roads and bridges, more classrooms and hospitals, and more public service in pursuit of the common good. We can also use the extra taxes collected to help our country pay for our deep debt brought on by the economic crisis during the pandemic," he said.
In the end, HB No.6783 was referred to a technical working group (TWG) for further deliberation, "where the subject matter is an amendment to RA No.9165", Barbers said.