Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said he is confident that the bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana will benefit more epileptic and cancer patients in the long run once it is passed into law.
Ejercito, one of the 13 senators who signed the committee report on Senate Bill No. 2573 or the proposed “Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines,” pointed this out during a Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday, February 29.
“Yes, I signed (it). I’m for it, I’m actually open for discussion. If it’s for medical purposes, I’m open to it. Kasi it will relieve the pain and prolong the life of the patient, why not?” Ejercito said during the press forum.
“Ang problema lang naman dyan yung abuse eh (The only potential problem is abuse). So we just have to put the safeguards and mechanisms to make sure that it is not abused. At saka medical lang ito (and this is only for medical use), medical cannabis. Hindi naman ito (this is not for) recreational (use),” he added.
For one, Ejercito said his sister-in-law, who is an epileptic, benefitted from the use of medical marijuana.
“Alam ko dati, pag inaatake yun, madalas, halos frequent, halos araw-araw. Grabe, nakakatakot eh. Kala mo di magsu-survive (Before, when she is having seizures, it is so frequent, almost daily. It was scary, you might think she will not survive),” Ejercito said.
“Pero nung nakakuha siya ng (But when she was able to have access to one) medical cannabis, ng medication, nawala na talaga. Na-cure. (She was healed. She was cured). Nung una na-lessen, tapos nawala na. Ang problema na lang nya ngayon ay humaba ang tulog niya (At first it was lessened, then it just gradually disappeared. The only problem she now has is how to lengthen the hours of sleep),” he pointed out.
Ejercito, a former chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, also said cancer patients are the ones passionately pushing for the measure.
“Sila talaga yung nagpu-push, kasi talagang excruciating yung pain eh, pag may cancer. So sila talaga yung naga-appeal na mapagbigyan ito, para ma-relieve naman yung kanilang pain (So they are the ones pushing for this because they really feel excruciating pain. So they are the ones appealing for this measure, so they can experience relief from pain),” he said.
Ejercito, nevertheless, said he believes the challenge would be the cultivation of marijuana and safeguarding the plantation against abusers.
“But I am for it, considering the medical purposes, as long as the safeguards and mechanisms are there,” he said.
Under SB No. 2573, the use of cannabis for medical purposes would be allowed to treat or alleviate a qualified patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptoms.
Under the measure, the medicalization of marijuana will also ensure that its acquisition, possession, transportation, delivery dispensing, administration, cultivation, or manufacturing by private individuals or entities will only be for medical and research purposes.
The bill also proposes the creation of the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority (PCMA) under the Department of Health (DOH). The PCMA will be the principal regulatory agency tasked to implement the measure.
The bill is now up for plenary debates after 13 senators signified their approval on the panel report.