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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider FDA exec open to medical use of marijuana

FDA exec open to medical use of marijuana

Published Feb 13, 2024 06:48 am

A drug regulatory official in the country is open to allowing the medical use of marijuana in the country.

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Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Samuel Zacate said he is open to the proposal to legalize medical cannabis in the country, underscoring that "medicine is an innovation."

He stressed that Filipinos must have a wide range of therapeutic drug choices, and in order to do that, they must be ready to use innovative medicine.

"[M]y take is medicine is an innovation, we cannot guarantee na ito lang po tayo at darating sa future eh wala na hanggang dito na lang (that this is all we have in the future that we will stop here)," Zacate said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 13.

Zacate, however, pointed out there must be regulations in allowing the use of medical marijuana. 

"So, my take on marijuana is that I am open, this is the Filipinos must have a wide range of therapeutic indication or therapeutic drug of choice. So, ako po ay…opo, for the record that the Food and Drug Administration and me the as director general is very much open for the marijuana as long, that is has been streamline ‘no, at hindi naman po makakasama po sa ating mga taumbayan (and it will not cause harm to the people)," he added.

He also likened the innovative use of marijuana as a medicine to penicillin, saying "it came from fungi and now, it is treating many more wounds and are used as antibiotics also."

Although he was open with the proposal, he acknowledged that it is still subject to the wisdom of the legislature and he is not in the position to preempt Congress' moves.

A House committee has proposed a measure allowing the medical use of cannabis but it will still be listed an illegal drug under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act or Republic Act 9165.

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