While Senator Imee Marcos appreciates the intent behind the bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana, she said that this requires very strict enforcement to ensure its intended use.

"I appreciate the intent particularly the compassionate use of marijuana but at the same time I would like to see very, very clear lines of control and regulation as well as a mechanism for genuine enforcement which has impeded the implementation of this wall in many jurisdictions, some much better managed than ours," she said during the Kapihan sa Senado on Thursday, February 29.

Marcos said that she has very clear knowledge of the compassionate use of medical marijuana being a glaucoma patient but she wants those who will handle it to be more strict.

"Gusto ko mas mahigpit kung sino may authority, sino talaga mamamahala hindi masyadong malinaw sa akin (I want the authority who will facilitate this to be more strict, it's not very clear to me)," she added.

"Palagay ko okay pero detalyehan pa natin nang todo-todo para mahigpit na mahigpit siya kasi di klaro sino mamamahala, sinong magpaparusa, sinong huhuli, sino magdedetermine kung talagang medical anong gagawin kappag hindi pala medical. Ang hirap kasi ng enforcement niyan nakita ko na (I think it's okay but let's put ,"

She stated that it's not clear yet who will be in charge. Regarding the enforcement aspect, she said that she needs to see it for the reason that it failed in many jurisdictions.

"What has failed is the limitations to medical use sasabihin medical use pero sa bandang huli nagagamit sa recreational at iba-iba pang use (they will say it's for medical use but in the end it will be used for recreation and a lot more)," she said.

"So regulation and control dapat bantayan. Natatakot ako eh so dapat higpitan natin lagyan ng pangil konti kasi wag natin kalimutan marami rin doktor nagsasabi gateway drug yan sa dangerous drugs (So regulation and control should be the basis. I'm afraid of what can happen so we need to put teeth to this because let's remember, a lot of doctors said that this has been a gateway drug to dangerous drugs)," she added.

A total of 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.