A joint committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the bill legalizing the use of cannabis or marijuana for medical use.
The joint committees on dangerous drugs, and health chaired by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte and Ciriaco Gato Jr. of Batanes, respectively, passed the unnumbered substitute bill that proposes the creation of a Medical Cannabis Office (MCO) under the Department of Health.
The office would grant accreditation to doctors and other licenses for the medical use of cannabis.
Barbers, the House dangerous drugs committee chairperson, was quick to say that “this [proposed] law only grants an exception to the enumeration of prohibited drugs under RA [Republic Act] 9165 by limiting it for medical use.”
Barbers added: “Cannabis in pharmaceutical form is allowed, provided that you have a prescription.”
The joint committee deliberated on at least nine bills filed on the subject.
Some propose the right of access to medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative means of medical treatment, or the removal of cannabis from the list of prohibitive substances under RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Barbers said a technical working group (TWG) would be formed following the proceedings to consolidate the nine bills.
Barbers said the joint panel will assess the viability of the proposed law as the current “has limitations, as the accredited physician is only allowed to prescribe what is allowable for the illness.”
While the proposed bill creates a MCO under the supervision of the DOH to grant accreditation to doctors and other licenses, the MCO would still have to clear it with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) before issuing these.
“There would still have to be coordination with the DDB to ensure that those securing licenses and permits are not involved in the illegal drug trade,” Barbers said.
According to Barbers, “not all medical practitioners will be given accreditation, as they would need training, clearances, and comply with other requirements that won’t be easy to secure.”
Under the bill, stiffer penalties shall be imposed against violators, such as faking illness or prescriptions to secure cannabis: jail time of at least six months but not more than six years, and/or a fine of P500,000 to P1 million.
At present, the DOH allows the medical use of cannabis under a compassionate special permit.
Once the bill gets enacted, the issuance of a CSP will no longer be needed, the bill provides.
A technical working group (TWG) would be formed to consolidate the nine bills and have it referred to the plenary for action.