PDEA backs medical marijuana bill
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is not objecting to the bill allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes provided there are safeguards to prevent abuse.
PDEA director general Aaron Aquino made the statement yesterday after the House Committee on Health approved House Bill No. 180 or “An Act Providing Compassionate and Right of Access to Medical Cannabis and Expanding Research into its Medicinal Properties.”
“PDEA supports the intention and purpose behind the proposed bill. The agency recognizes the need of patients to have access to safe, affordable, available medical cannabis prescribed by registered physicians in cases where cannabis has been found to be effective in the prevention, treatment and management of chronic or debilitating health conditions,” Aquino said.
He has also proposed recommendations to improve the bill, including clearly defining marijuana and cannabis in the measure.
The PDEA chief explained that marijuana is a term used to describe all plant parts of Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis sativa forma indica and Cannabis ruderalis.
Cannabis, on the other hand, is a term used to refer to the preparation of the plant Cannabis Sativa intended for use as psychoactive drug or medicine.
Aquino said while PDEA is inclined towards the enactment of HB 180, “control measures and regulations on the medical use of cannabis are highly needed to ensure the patient’s safety and prevent its use for recreational purposes.”
PDEA recommends that the bill should be very specific and only legalize the use of tablet or capsule preparations of the medicinal component of cannabis.
PDEA also proposes to amend paragraph b of Section 6 of the bill as proof of bonafide relationship with the patient.
“The agency believes that in order for a physician to be competent to certify a patient’s medical need to use cannabis, he/she must show proof that he/she has a bonafide relationship with the patient,” it said.
PDEA said in Section 26, it will more prudent to include a statement that “cultivation, possession, use, sale, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of cannabis not in accordance with the provisions of the Act shall be deemed a violation of Republic Act 9165, Otherwise Known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”
Aquino also reminded the public that the use of marijuana is still prohibited until the passage of the bill into law.
“As of the moment, the fact remains that under existing Philippine laws, marijuana is a dangerous drug whose cultivation, sale and use are strictly prohibited. PDEA will continue to enforce the law and enjoin the public to abide by the law,” he added.