Philippines: legalization of medical cannabis in sight?

Will medical cannabis be legalized in the Philippines during the next session of Congress?

At any rate, that is the intention of Congressman Rodolfo Albano III, who will resubmit his proposal on Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, in early July during the 17th Congress.

Albano says that the recent legalization of medical cannabis in Colombia inspired him to make the bill a priority House Bill 4477, which seeks to permit and regulate the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

The bill also calls for the creation of a regulatory body under the authority of the Department of Health. However, it does not support either the recreational use of cannabis or the decriminalization of its use. Identification cards would be issued to patients selected for the program, with priority given to those suffering from debilitating illnesses.

Albano says that modern studies have shown that medical cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain, nausea, and the symptoms of cancer, multiple sclerosis, and AIDS.

Rodolfo Albano had already presented his in May 2014 HB4477, which had not been approved by the 16th Congress.

Current President Rody Duterte, despite his vile remarks about drug users («Go find them and kill them,» quite simply), supports the use of cannabis for medical purposes.

«Medical cannabis, yes, because it’s a component of modern medicine,» he told reporters. «There are drugs today that are being developed or are already on the market that contain cannabis.».

Cannabis is illegal in the Philippines. Currently, possession or use—even for medical purposes—can be punishable by several years in prison or life imprisonment. The first time a user is «caught,» they are sentenced to 6 months in rehab. A second offense carries a sentence of 6 to 12 years in prison. Growers, on the other hand, face life imprisonment or the death penalty. A Filipino man spent 15 years in prison after being arrested with two joints in his possession.