Sotto: Medical marijuana hearings up to Ejercito

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he would leave it to Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito whether or not to conduct public hearings on the proposal to legalize the medical use of marijuana, or cannabis, but hopes that he will "not indulge" in doing such.

Sotto reminded Ejercito, a reelectionist lawmaker, about the midterm polls next year following the latter's plan to discuss the possibility of legalizing medical marijuana.

"It's up to him. Each chairman has his own priorities. I’m sure if he is enlightened he will not indulge in such considering it’s almost campaign period time," Sotto told reporters when asked to comment on Ejercito's plan.

Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, expressed openness to consider allowing the use of medical marijuana, especially for cancer patients.

He said that if he wins another Senate term, he will pursue Senate Bill 1313 filed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, or the proposed public health intervention for drug abuse which is the closest thing to a provision for medical marijuana.

Ejercito said he would discuss the matter with Sotto, a staunch anti-illegal drugs advocate, to help make sure that the permitted use of medical marijuana will not be abused.

But Sotto had said there was no need to pass a measure on medical marijuana, saying Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 already has a provision on the matter.

He said that under Section 2 of RA 9165, the government must “achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated with adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.”

Sotto also said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) Circular No. 2014009 which provides access to drugs and medicines that are not registered in the Philippines for compassionate use.

Discussions on the legalization of cannabis for medical use floated anew following the Miss Universe 2018 pageant on Monday, where Philippine’s bet Catriona Gray was asked on her stand about the issue.

Gray, who later clinched the Miss Universe title, said she supports the legalization of marijuana for medical use, but not for recreational use.