House panels OK bill for medical use of cannabis

On Wednesday, the joint House committees on dangerous drugs and health approved a bill allowing the medical use of cannabis in the Philippines.

The bill, proposed by Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, permits cannabis for medicinal purposes only but will maintain it as an illegal drug under RA 9165.

Under the measure, medical cannabis in pharmaceutical form will be issued by doctors to patients with debilitating diseases or severe conditions like epilepsy, glaucoma, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV/AIDS, and non-debilitating diseases such as anxiety or insomnia.

The Medical Cannabis Office (MCO) under the Department of Health will oversee accreditation for physicians and issue licenses after thorough vetting by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Offenders who fraudulently obtain cannabis face penalties including imprisonment for six months to six years and/or a fine of P500,000 to P1 million.

Currently, medical practitioners can obtain cannabis under a compassionate special permit issued by the Health department, but this will no longer be necessary once the bill becomes law.