Robin bats for medical marijuana anew, sees revenues for gov't

In pushing anew for a law on the legalization of the use of medical marijuana, neophyte Senator Robinhood Padilla stressed its benefits could outweigh fears, this time tying it with revenues which may reduce the country's budget deficit for 2023.

"Minsan na ring lumutang sa kamalayan ng mga miyembro ng bulwagang ito ang panukala patungkol sa legalisasyon ng paggamit ng cannabis para sa layuning medikal. Bahagyang naging masinsin din ang diskusyon patungkol sa pangangailangan upang payagang magamit ang marijuana para sa compassionate purposes," he said in a privilege speech.

"Ang sa atin lamang po, hindi naman tayo dapat mangamba. Ika nga, 'Don’t panic, it’s organic'," he added.

Aside from the medical benefits that the legalization of cannabis use can bring, Padilla said revenues to be collected from taxes and licensing fees may be used to augment the needed funds of the government.

Padilla said the government is facing budget deficit with its proposed P5.26-trillion budget for 2023 as expected revenues are only around P3.63 trillion.

"Kung kumporme tayo na mangutang para mapunan ang ating mga plano, hindi po ba nararapat lamang na maging masigasig rin tayo na maghanap ng mapagkukunan natin ng kita? At kung hahanap tayo ng pandagdag pondo, huwag naman po sana at naniniwala po ako na hindi papayag ang Senado na muli na naman tayong magdagdag ng buwis para pasanin ng ating mga kababayan na ngayon ay naghihirap," he said.

"Ang akin pong punto: bukod sa lumalawak na gamit ng medical cannabis, malaki rin po ang ambag nito sa ekonomiya," he added.

Padilla said the medical use of cannabis is legal in 70 countries, with around 4.4 active patients.

"Bibigyang-diin lamang po natin na ang ating isinusulong ay medical cannabis lamang —ito po ang produktong cannabis na nasa anyong capsule at oil at mayroong pharmaceutical formulation kasama ang detalyado at tamang impormasyon tungkol sa konsentrasyon ng tetrahydrocannabinol o THC at cannabidiol o CBD. Hindi po ito iyong alam nating 2 joints, o jutes, o hashish, Mary Jane at iba pang katawagan sa marijuana na para sa recreation o good time lamang," he said.

"Kaya naman po pinupursigi natin ang pagpapasa ng batas na partikular sa legal na access ng medical cannabis dahil ito po ang direksyong nararapat nating tahakin kung sisilipin natin ang mga benepisyong hatid nito gamit ang lente ng kalusugan at ekonomiya." he added.

According to the lawmaker, global sales of medical cannabis amounted to $374.4 billion in 2021 alone. In several countries in Asia such as Israel, the senator said the industry generated $158.9 million or P8.7B in 2020. Thailand, meanwhile, earned $79 million in 2021.

“Sabihin na nating magkalapit ang benepisyo ng pagsasalegal ng medical cannabis. Una, magkaroon ng mas accessible at murang mapagkukunan ng medical cannabis ang mga pasyente na hindi po nagmumukhang drug addict ang mga pasyente na pati mga magulang ng mga batang ito ay hirap na hirap kung saan sila kukuha at may kasamang pagkatakot na baka sila ay mahuli. At pangalawa, maaring kumita ang gobyerno mula sa buwis para gamitin sa makabuluhang serbisyo publiko,” he said.

In July, Padilla Senate Bill No. 230 seeking the legalization of medical marijuana as a “compassionate alternative means of medical treatment” and the expansion of research into its properties.

Under the bill, medical cannabis, which refers to products such as capsules and oil, and not raw cannabis, may be used on a “qualified patient who has been diagnosed by a certifying physician as having a debilitating medical condition.”

It also defines “debilitating medical condition” to include cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous system of the spinal cord, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis or similar chronic autoimmune deficiency, diseases requiring hospice care, severe nausea, sleep disorders, mood disorders, recurring migraine headaches, and other debilitating medical conditions identified by the Department of Health through the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee.—LDF, GMA News