Del Mar opposes marijuana bill

Rep. Raul Del Mar (Cebu City, 1st district) urged his colleagues in Congress to be more cautious in deliberating a law that will allow research on the supposed medical properties of marijuana in the country.

In his manifestation, del Mar reiterated his opposition to the passage of House Bill 6517, or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act.

“Legalizing marijuana, even for medicinal purposes, is divisive to the nation and fraught with danger. We need to be careful and study the proposal a lot more,” said del Mar.

HB 6517, which is pending for approval on second reading, seeks to amend Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which classifies marijuana or cannabis a dangerous drug.

Likewise, the bill seeks at providing “compassionate and right of access” to medical cannabis and expanding research into its medicinal properties.

Marijuana is classified as a prohibited substance, like methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, cocaine and heroin, under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Under the law, possession of at least 500 grams of marijuana, or at least 10 grams of marijuana concentrate (resin or resin oil), is punishable by life imprisonment, plus a fine of up to P10 million.

Marijuana is classified as a prohibited substance, like methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, cocaine and heroin, under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Carrying lesser quantities of the drug is punishable by 12 to 20 years in prison, plus a fine of up to P500,000.

Rep. Rodolfo Albano III of the Isabela (first district) is the principal author of the bill.

Del Mar is asking why the proponent is pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana when the country is even at war against illegal drugs.

He said that the United States, the United Nations, and the Philippine Medical Association have agreed that marijuana is dangerous and has no medical use.

“What could happen is that marijuana prescribed for patients could lead to their drug addiction, a state that could be worse than the illness sought to be treated. Worse, even those who are not sick might use the access to feed existing addiction,” del Mar said./