Doctors’ groups oppose use of raw form of marijuana in medical practices

Several doctors' groups converged in Quezon City on October 16 to deliver their stance against a house bill that seeks to legalize the use of marijuana in its raw form.

Filed in May 2014 after months of consultations with stakeholders, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III’s proposed Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act seeks to legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, to aid the treatment of patients with debilitating medical conditions.

Marijuana is included in the prohibited drugs list of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. In 1992, it was booted from its spot as the most addictive drug in the Philippines by shabu.

“Hindi namin isinasarado ang pananaliksik sa marijuana, pero ino-oppose namin as a medical community yung House Bill 4477,” said Dr. Minerva Calinag, president of the Philippine Medical Association.

“The bill makes out marijuana as a panacea or cure-all, which should not be the case,” said Dr. Anthony Leachon, president of the Philippine College of Physicians and the conference host.

He continued, “This is the second time in history that a group has come together in order not to allow the legalization of something—the first was the Sin Tax bill. We have to nip it in the bud right now and not even think of it.”

“We already have an existing bill on marijuana—we do not need a new bill,” said Assistant Secretary Benjamin Reyes of the Dangerous Drugs Board. “We are still studying the effects and health benefits of the use of cannabis under section 14 of board regulations.”

Compassionate use

The doctors' groups' representatives stressed that they were not closing the door on the use of marijuana—only that it be imported under strict trade regulations in its extract form, and administered in a research setting.

They were quick to emphasize that patients who feel that they need to take medical marijuana for their illnesses may apply for compassionate use for specific medical indications as conducted by credible scientists in order to ensure their safety.

Speaking for the Philippine League Against Epilepsy, its president, Dr. Marilyn Ortiz, laid down some facts about the disease, as many patients continue to seek treatment through medical marijuana.

About 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, with 80 percent of sufferers living in Third World countries. In the Philippines, about 1 percent of the total population, or about 1 million Filipinos, are afflicted with epilepsy.

“Despite the introduction of new medications, up to 30 percent of persons with epilepsy continue to have seizures. In our setting where medication costs are high and access to healthcare is limited, persons with epilepsy and their families continually seek new treatment options that may be more accessible and cost effective,” said Dr. Marilyn Ortiz, president of the Philippine League Against Epilepsy.

Ortiz said a few case reports, some animal studies, and uncontrolled studies revealed a potential treatment effect of marijuana derivative cannabidiol on epilepsy.

“However, marijuana has long been known to have psychoactive effects and potential detrimental effects on learning and memory especially in children and adolescents, and to potentially cause exacerbation of seizures,” said Ortiz.

“Therefore, we [the doctors' groups] will be there at every step of the process, refining that bill,” added Ortiz. “Ang proposal namin ay hindi yung house bill that will open the gates of perdition. We suggest the purified form of cannabis, administered under strict regulation.”

“We should focus on the country's top five killers—of which epilepsy is not even a part of—instead of creating a department on cannabis,” said Leachon.

Offending provisions, Colorado impact study

The doctors revealed that their groups were against the following items in House Bill 4477:

• Section 1, which states that marijuana was confirmed useful for treating certain diseases
• The definition of medical marijuana itself; it must be in extract form, not raw form. The definition also lacked a prescribed dosage.
• The definition of the doctor-patient relationship; the bill's current iteration states that doctors may “recommend” marijuana as treatment. However, “recommend” is different from “prescribe”; the latter connotes that the doctor will take responsibility in case something goes wrong.
• No mention of the species of marijuana that will be used.
• The overall vagueness of the law can lead to abuses.

Leachon and company cited the Colorado impact study of marijuana treatment, which was later expanded to include recreational use. After five years, there was an increase in vehicular accidents due to young adults driving under its influence.

“Huwag nating gawing guinea pig ang bansa natin, let's learn from the experience of other countries,” Reyes chimed.

“Our country has been distracted by this for too long,” said Calma. “It is time to move on.”

After the panel discussion, the doctors and other representatives present signed a contract as part of a commitment exercise in which they vowed not to let the bill pass without being revised according to their recommendations.

As of the press conference, the doctors stated that they were the task force formed after objections against HB 4477 was raised and that they were just waiting for congress's call for the hearing. — BM, GMA News