JV backs easy access to medical marijuana

SEN. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito is studying the possibility of amending the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) to ease the procedure on obtaining medical marijuana as alternative treatment for various ailments.

Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, on Wednesday conducted a public hearing on the proposed House Bill 6517 which aims to provide access to medical cannabis and expand research into its medical properties.

“Probably. Iyan ang ating tinitingan. Titimbangin ng panibagong batas (We’re studying that matter. We’ll weigh the necessity of whether there is a need for a new law),” Ejercito said in a chance interview after the public hearing.

“Perhaps we can introduce amendments to the DDA, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to make it accessible to those who are really suffering. The DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board) and FDA must help those who need it out of compassion,” he said in Filipino.

In a position paper submitted to the Senate health panel, Health Secretary Enrique Duque 3rd said, “Prescription and dispensation of medical cannabis for compassionate use should only be through guidelines stipulated by FDA and the DDB, and only through a special license issued by PDEA (Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency).”

“All I can ask is for FDA, DDB, to allow those who are presently suffering access [to medical marijuana] while we are deliberating it. Sana, kung mapadali ang proseso mas maganda (It will be nicer if the process in obtaining it will be expedited),” Ejercito said.

“Perhaps we can adjust the rules because they said that we don’t need another law [to allow use of medical cannabis]. However, the other side said the price [of medical marijuana] is quite expensive because we have to get it from the United States. We have to weigh this,” he added.

“Controversial as it may seem, but if it (medical marijuana) will alleviate the pain and prolong lives, why not? If it will be more accessible, why not? I’m open [to it],” the reelectionist senator said.

Duque said the proposed designation of Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers within hospitals and Medical Cannabis Research and Safety Compliance Facilities (MCRSCF) “is not necessary and will compromise the limited resources needed to treat life threatening illnesses.”

“Legalization of the use of medical cannabis should take into consideration its health benefits and risks based on available evidence, its cost-effectiveness, the regulatory capacity of the concerned agencies, and its impact on personal care of affected individuals,” Duque added.