13 senators sign committee report on medical marijuana bill
Thirteen (13) senators have signed the committee report on the measure that seeks to legalize the use of medical marijuana or cannabis.
Senators who signed the Committee Report No. 210 for Senate Bill No. 2573, or the proposed “Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines” include Sen. Robinhood Padilla, Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Mark Villar, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Grace Poe and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also signed the report.
Go, Villar and Revilla signed the report but with reservations. Estrada, Poe, Pimentel and Villanueva indicated they will interpellate or introduce amendments. It was Padilla who sponsored the measure.
The bill seeks the creation of the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority (PMCA) under the Department of Health (DOH), and will be the principal agency that will be in charge of the implementation of the proposed law, and access and use of medical cannabis.
The PMCA, in turn, shall be assisted by the inter-agency Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee. The PMCA shall also be in charge of identifying the specific areas allowable for the cultivation of marijuana.
Under the proposed law, the cultivation shall only be permitted in a closed, locked and controlled facility and that the cultivation shall not be located within one kilometer of the property line of pre-existing public or private school, college or university, daycare center, child care facility or an area zoned for residential use.
Senate Bill No. 2573 recognizes the beneficial and therapeutic effects of marijuana on certain medical conditions and its use will be restricted to treat or alleviate a qualified patient’s debilitating disease or symptoms.