Senators divided on legalizing marijuana for medical use

Senators are divided on the issue of legalizing marijuana for medical purpose following President Rodrigo’s supposed joke that he smokes weed to keep up with the punishing schedules of international conferences.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III thumbed down the proposal.

“Nope. Medical cannabis oil perhaps, but not marijuana per se,  although further research is necessary if indeed ... oil helps. Besides, up to now since 1968 that Israel institution started experiments on marijuana, there is no empirical data that proves marijuana can cure anything,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online on Tuesday.

If the people seeking legalization of medical marijuana will read Republic Act 9165, there is a compassionate use provision that allows them to use the drug through the Dangerous Drugs Board and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Sotto said.

The Senate President is the principal author of RA 9165.

“If they know this, yet insist on legalization, it only means they want the weed legalized not for medical purposes,” Sotto said.

Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday he is not in favor, citing an inefficient regulatory environment.

“It will never work in our system because government is a very poor regulator,” he said in a text message to GMA News Online.

On the other hand, the right regulatory framework would compel Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto to give it a yes.

He is in favor of legalizing cannabis for medical use, but “it must be properly regulated.”

Senator Panfilo Lacson is also open to the idea.

However, he wants strict safeguards in the law against possible loopholes that may lead beyond the bounds of medical use.

“Gusto ko mapakinggan ang debate. Kung medical, baka puwede,” Lacson said.

“Huwag ang recreational. In California, for example, ang batas doon ginawa nilang legal, recreational and medical. Sa atin medical lang hinihingi,” the senator noted.

“But, of course, ano ang mga safeguards? Baka mamaya ... Oo nga, ang intention maganda, medical ang gamit pero baka magkaroon ng proliferation ng marijuana para sa recreational, ma-defeat ang purpose,” he said.

Also open to the legalization is Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

“Have an open mind because other countries have allowed even its recreational use. Maybe we need to find out the science behind marijuana. Ano ba talaga ang effects nito?” he said.

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the medical community should consulted in light of recent developments that legalized marijuana—both medical and recreational—in the US and Canada.

“Many countries seem to be doing so as it is seen to be effective pain killer for cancer and epilepsy. Pwede na pag aralan nang mabuti ‘yan,” he said in a separate text message.

During the awarding ceremony of the ASEAN National Organizing Council in Malacañang on Monday, Duterte said he uses marijuana to stay awake. 

He later said it was just a joke. 

“I want to shake the tree. Boring ‘pag wala. Alam mo naman nagpapatawa talaga ako,” he said.

“It was a joke, of course. It was a joke. But nobody can stop me from just doing my style. Minsan sabi niyo misogynist ako. Biro ako ng ganun that’s my style. It’s too late to change. If I want to joke, I will joke. Kung maniwala kayo gago kayo," Duterte added.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday said Duterte was only joking when he said he uses marijuana to keep himself awake amid his busy schedule.

"Hindi na ba tayo nasanay sa Pangulo? Palagi naman siya, every now and then, he cracks joke to make people laugh, to lighten the situation," Panelo said in an interview on Unang Balita.

In stressing that Duterte was not serious when he made the crack about marijuana, Panelo noted that using the illegal drug, which is not a stimulant, to keep oneself awake does not make sense.

A pending bill filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros seeks a comprehensive public health approach to the country’s drug-related policy. It is also proposing the use of marijuana with the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under Hontiveros’s proposal “the delivery, possession, transfer, transportation, or use of cannabis and other dangerous drugs intended for medical use or to treat or alleviate a patient’s medical condition or symptoms associated with his or her debilitating disease ... shall be allowed upon application to and approval of the Food and Drug Administration.” —VDS/KG, GMA News