Cannabis in the Philippines

One of the strictest legal frameworks in Asia

Cannabis, in all its forms, is illegal in the Philippines under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (RA 9165). Possession, use, cultivation, and sale are subject to extremely severe penalties, which can include life imprisonment depending on the quantities seized. The anti-drug policy implemented under President Rodrigo Duterte—marked by extremely violent police operations and thousands of extrajudicial killings—has permanently shaped public perception of the issue in the country and explains the caution shown by current political leaders.

There is one very narrow exception: the FDA Compassionate Use Permit allows a licensed Filipino physician or hospital to import and dispense a cannabis-based medication to a specifically designated patient suffering from a serious medical condition, in the absence of an approved alternative. This program remains limited in scope and inaccessible to the vast majority of patients.

A parliamentary dynamic not seen since 2024

The debate over medical cannabis is nothing new in the Philippines: several bills, including the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, had been introduced in the past but never passed. The situation changed in 2024: the House of Representatives considered and then approved the House Bill 10439, which calls for the creation of a Medical Cannabis Office (MCO) under the Ministry of Health to regulate access, prescribing, and research.

The bill passed its third and final reading by an overwhelming margin—177 in favor, 9 against, and 9 abstentions—before being sent to the Senate, where the Senate Bill No. 2573 has also been reported on by several joint committees (Health, Public Order and Narcotics, and Finance). The bill explicitly states that the medicalization of cannabis does not decriminalize its general use: it constitutes a targeted exception to the list of prohibited substances under RA 9165, reserved for regulated medical use.

Prudent Management

The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed conditional support: in its view, any legalization of medical cannabis must be based on solid scientific evidence, a rigorous cost-effectiveness assessment, and sufficient regulatory capacity on the part of the relevant agencies. The DOH specifies, however, that it does not support the cultivation of cannabis plants or the manufacture of cannabis-based products on Philippine soil under the bill’s current wording—a reservation that could weigh on the Senate’s deliberations.

One of the largest potential markets in Asia

If the bill is definitively passed by the Senate and enacted, the Philippines could become one of the most significant medical cannabis markets in Southeast Asia, driven by a large population and patient demand already documented by several opinion polls showing majority public support for regulated therapeutic use.

Key Takeaways

• Usage Recreational use remains strictly prohibited and severely punished under RA 9165.
• Only one a very restrictive individual medical exemption currently exists (Compassionate Special Permit).
• The House Bill 10439, which establishes a Medical Cannabis Office, was passed by the House in 2026 by an overwhelming margin and is awaiting Senate approval.
• The Ministry of Health supports the principle, but is currently opposed to any local cultivation.

Find all the latest Newsweed coverage here on the progress of the Philippine medical cannabis bill and broader developments in the country’s drug policy.