‘FDA, not lawmakers, should supervise medical marijuana’

Medical marijuana should be placed under the supervision of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and not the houses of Congress, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said yesterday.

“We believe that medical cannabis should be under the jurisdiction of the FDA and not the (House of Representatives) or Senate since these chambers have no capacity to monitor, review and process efficacy, safety and quality of drugs, most specifically medical cannabis,” the PMA said.

This came after the joint House committees on dangerous drugs and health approved a bill allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

The PMA together with 20 other medical societies and groups have expressed strong opposition to the legalization of marijuana.

“All legislative bills on the use of cannabis/ marijuana, other than those approved for specific clinical conditions by the FDA, should not be passed,” the groups said in a unified statement.

They warned that the proposed law would give the public more access to marijuana and pave the way for its recreational use.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday it welcomes moves to legalize medical marijuana.

The DOH, however, stressed that “any such initiatives should be based on the best available scientific evidence, weighed for cost-effectiveness and public health impact.”

Lawmakers, according to the DOH, should “also consider the regulatory capacity of all government agencies that will be involved should there be approval.”

What the DOH does not support is the cultivation of marijuana plants or the manufacture of cannabis products locally.

The DOH also reminded the public that any use of marijuana at this point is still punishable by law, unless granted a compassionate special permit (CSP) signed by the FDA chief.

The CSP would allow cannabis use and importation in the country.