A MEDICAL group on Monday threw its support for the legalization of the use of cannabis or marijuana for medical purposes.
Dr. Gem Marq l Mutia, the Philippine Society of Cannabis Medicine chairperson, said “we have been advocating the use of cannabis medicine in the past 10 years.”
“Seven cannabis-related bills are now pending in the House of Representatives. They have their counterpart bills at the Senate,” he said.
He said his group is hopeful that the Senate would certify bill as urgent.
“The Food and Drug Administration-approved active imported Cannabinoid ingredients of cannabis or marijuana, whether conventional medicine, 6,000 years ago, have proven benefits,” he stressed.
The use of medical cannabis reduces the incidence of smoking,” he cited.
He, however, lamented that there are still some doctors and politicians who don’t know anything about medical cannabis.
Richard Nixon Gomez, chief executive officer of Bauertek Corp. chief executive officer, said medical cannabis is a herbal medicine. Bauertek is a licensed manufacturer of herbal medicines.
Large pharmaceutical companies are lobbying against medical cannabis, Gomez said.
He lauded Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, committee on dangerous drugs chairperson, and Senator Robin Padilla for their support on the use of medical marijuana.
