The House committee on health, chaired by Quezon 4th District Rep. Angelina Tan, unanimously approved on Tuesday House Bill 180, or the proposed Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act.
This was decided after consulting patients, advocacy groups, health care practitioners, and experts in the regulation of controlled substances for medical use.
Authored by Isabela 1st District Representative Rodolfo T. Albano III, the proposal is said to provide compassionate and right of access to medical cannabis and expand research into its medicinal properties.
Albano claimed that the “Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act,” should not be deemed in any manner to advocate, authorize, promote, or legally or socially accept the use of cannabis or marijuana for any non-medical use.
“For this reason, the bill provides for control measures and regulation on the medical use of cannabis to ensure patient’s safety and for effective and efficient implementation of the Act,” Albano added.
Under the bill, the use of marijuana to treat debilitating medical conditions would be allowed only for medication purposes.
“Potential medical effects based on clinical trials include prevention of cancer from spreading, management of anxiety, slows progression of Alzheimer’s disease and control of muscle spasms and tremors. Cannabis use in children with epilepsy and seizure disorders have been shown to be effective without the deleterious side effects of anti-epileptic medications,” Albano explained.
The bill mandates the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary to lead the formulation of regulations to implement the Act. The Secretary shall also issue registered identification (ID) cards to qualified patients after a careful review of their required documents.
It also seeks to establish Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers that would be licensed by the DOH and based in DOH-retained hospitals, specialty hospitals and private tertiary hospitals.
These centers are eyed to “sell, supply, and dispense cannabis to qualified patients or their caregivers through a pharmacist with an S3 license issued by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.”
A registered MCCC or Medical Cannabis Safety Compliance Facility (MCSCF) shall implement appropriate security measures to deter and prevent the theft of cannabis and unauthorized entrance into areas containing cannabis. | (Tina Joyce Laceda – PTV)
