Creating a nation of zombies

Iam against the “backdoor decriminalization” of marijuana through a proposed law that would encourage the supposed medicinal use of the highly addictive banned drug.

If other countries wish to destroy themselves by enabling medical marijuana, then let them create their own problems. We Filipinos certainly do not want to degenerate into a nation of zombies.

I am referring to the 63-member House committee on health’s decision to endorse for plenary approval the bill that would allow Filipinos to avail of marijuana for therapeutic purposes.

We expect the bill to be put to the floor when Congress resumes session next month, and we intend to fight forcefully House Bill 6517, or the proposed Act Providing Filipinos Right of Access to Medical Marijuana.

The Philippine Medical Association, the professional organization of Filipino physicians, has rejected the bill outright, declaring it “contrary to the policy of the State to safeguard the well-being of its citizenry.”

Advocates of the bill argue that Filipino families should be allowed to use marijuana to provide artificial, mind-altering ‘highs’ to depressed teenagers as well as children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, when what these vulnerable kids truly need and deserve is extra loving care and emotional support.

What makes marijuana even more menacing is that many young Filipinos are known to first experiment on the substance, before they eventually use harder drugs.

Marijuana is a gateway drug. Pushers in schools use marijuana to entice students to use drugs for the first time, before they are introduced to shabu.

At present, marijuana is classified as a prohibited substance, just like methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, cocaine and heroin, under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.--