SEN. Nancy Binay yesterday called for the legalization of medical cannabis to convince more doctors and medical practitioners to prescribe it to their patients, especially those suffering from epilepsy.
Binay made the pitch as the committees on health and demography, public order and dangerous drugs, and finance held their first hearing on Senate Bill. No. 230 or the Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act of the Philippines.
Based on her conversations with the Dangerous Drugs Board way back in 2019, Binay said agency officials told her that there were no attempts to request for a permit to import cannabis oil and no medical doctors were willing to prescribe medical cannabis as an alternative compassionate medicine.
“Maybe it’s good to have research and further study on this, because one of the hurdles that you need to overcome is how to convince medical professionals to prescribe this medical cannabis,” Binay said.
Binay clarified that what she is pushing for is the use of the final dosage form of marijuana, not the raw one being used by some for recreational purposes.
“At the end of the day, it should always be the science that would guide us. And we have to put in place the necessary safeguards and prioritize the safety of patients. From the treatment perspective, patient care is paramount, but we don’t want the law to be abused,” Binay said.
Sen. Christopher Go, committee on health and demography chairman, said he supports the use of medical cannabis but safeguards should be in place so it will not be abused.
Go said a lot of people have approached him requesting that the compassionate use of medical cannabis be passed into a law so they can have an affordable alternative medication.
“Mr. Chair, distinguished colleagues, I am here to give my full support to our sub-committee chairman, Senator Robinhood Padilla, for initiating this hearing which recognizes medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative means of medical treatment…Kaya kung ano man ang makakatulong sa paggamot ng mga sakit ay susuporta naman po ako dito (I will support whatever it takes to help treat the sick),” Go said.
Padilla has filed Senate Bill No. 230 that seeks to allow the use of medical marijuana or cannabis, as well as further research into its medicinal use, noting that marijuana has been used as a herbal medicine for conditions such as gout, rheumatism, and malaria.
Under the bill, medical cannabis in capsule and oil form may be used to address “debilitating medical conditions” of “qualified patients.”
Padilla, in his bill, stressed there should be penalties for the abuse of marijuana. The bill contains safeguards to prevent such abuse.
The bill also provides for enhancing research and development for medical cannabis, and the training of medical cannabis physicians and pharmacists.
Padilla, during yesterday’s hearing, assured that the use of marijuana for medical purposes will not be abused.
He said the passage of a measure which will allow compassionate use of medical cannabis is timely since there is limited use of marijuana as medicine.
