MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Senator Robinhood Padilla introduced Senate Bill (SB) 2573, the Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines, before the Senate plenary on Wednesday under Committee Report No. 210.
In his sponsorship speech, Padilla reassured that SB 2573 has enough safeguards from cultivation until it reaches qualified patients.
“Magkakaroon po tayong mga electronic monitoring systems in place upang masubaybayan ng pamahalaan at ng kinauukulan na ang lahat ay tumatalima sa mga limitasyong isinaad ng batas,” he said.
Padilla said only a qualified patient will be allowed to use cannabis for medical purposes and in designated treatment facilities.
Under SB 2573, physicians will be prohibited from prescribing medical cannabis if they have no S2 license, if the patient is unqualified, and if it will not be used for a specific medical condition, as well as prescribing beyond the needed dosage for the patient.
They are also not allowed to prescribe medical cannabis for themselves and their relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.
“Inilatag na rin po natin ang mga partikular na ipinagbabawal na gawain para sa mga medical cannabis industry player, gayundin sa mga indibidwal at iba pang entities,” Padilla assured, saying strict regulations will govern the importation of such products.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa co-signed SB 2573, citing Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9165, which aims to balance the national drug control program by ensuring adequate medication for legitimate medical needs.
“Examining this more closely, then, we can see that the proposal of our dear colleague, Senator Padilla, is in full consonance with the government’s existing anti-illegal drugs policy,” Dela Rosa said.
“In cultivating the passage of this bill, we are giving our patients relief from their suffering. We are giving them a comfortable fighting chance,” he added.
The Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority (PMCA) will be established under the Department of Health, following the structure of the Israel Medical Cannabis Agency. It will establish a Comprehensive Cannabis Medicalization Plan, regulations, a monitoring system, and licenses.
The list of medical cannabis products being proposed to be legalized will be limited to edibles, pills, oil, tinctures, flowers, topicals, and inhalers.
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