Stricter rules for medical cannabis pushed

SEN. Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos called for more stringent regulations for the proposed legalization of medical cannabis or marijuana in the Philippines.

“I appreciate the intent, particularly the compassionate use of marijuana, but at the same time, I would like to see very clear lines of control and regulation as well as a mechanism for genuine enforcement,” the senator said.

Sen. Maria Josefa Imelda “Imee” Marcos (PHOTO: MIKE ALQUINTO)

Marcos issued the statement as the Senate started deliberations on Senate Bill 2573 or the Cannabis Medicalization Act on Thursday.

The senator added that she has not signed the committee report on the bill prepared by the Senate Subcommittee on Medical Cannabis Compassionate Access Act headed by Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla.

“I haven’t signed it. I have a very clear knowledge of the compassionate use of marijuana because I am a glaucoma patient just like my mother and many of my relatives from my mother’s side, we all have eye conditions. For decades, medical cannabis was prescribed by doctors for glaucoma patients for medical purposes,” Marcos said.

Twelve senators have already signed the committee report on the measure.

“It’s not clear to me who’s the one in charge and the enforcement aspect. I also need to see it because it has repeatedly failed in many jurisdictions, what has failed is the limitation to medical use. It is easy to say that it is for medical use but in the end, it can be abused for recreational and other illegal use,” Marcos said in Filipino and English.

Padilla, author of the bill, said he is open to suggestions from his colleagues.

Under the bill, the term “medical cannabis” refers to cannabis products in their pharmaceutical formulation which shall have detailed and accurate information regarding the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol as certified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

It mandates that medical cannabis will be used as a complementary treatment to alleviate a qualified patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptoms.

It seeks the creation of the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority under the Department of Health, which will be the principal agency that will be in charge of the implementation of the proposed law and access and use of medical cannabis.