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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pro-medical marijuana bills see progress in House

Pro-medical marijuana bills see progress in House

Published Aug 2, 2023 12:25 am
Batanes lone district Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. (left) and Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers. (PPAB)





The proposed legalization of medical cannabis or marijuana has inched forward in the House of Representatives. This, after a joint technical working group (TWG) was formed Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 1 in a bid to consolidate eight bills that either seek the right of access to medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative means of medical treatment, or the removal of cannabis from the list of prohibitive substances under Republic Act (RA) No.9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. A ninth bill up for consolidation seeks to create the Philippine Cannabis Development Authority. The joint TWG was created by the House Committees on Dangerous Drugs and on Health, which carried out a joint panel hearing with the bills' authors as well as resource persons from the medical sector Tuesday. Dangerous drugs panel chairman, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, made the motion to form the joint TWG. It will be led by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville Luistro and MALASAKIT@BAYANIHAN Party-list Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. The measures on deck for the joint TWG are are HB Nos. 241, 2007, 4638, 4866, 7817, 243, 6783, 7616, and 4208. The joint hearing was led by Barbers and his health committee counterpart, Batanes lone district Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr. During the hearing, Cannahopefuls, Inc. President Dr. Donnabel Trias-Cunanan, a mother of a girl suffering from epilepsy, told the solons that medical cannabis can help control seizures. She broke down in tears as she shared her experience to the panel. Department of Health (DOH) Director Rodley Carza, for his part, recognized the potential benefits of medical cannabis, but stressed the need for further research to strengthen evidence on its efficacy. He also emphasized the need for oversight on cannabis research development plans and projects, as well as provisions to address possible overlaps in Philippine Cannabis Development Authority (PhilCADA) mandates with those of existing agencies.

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