The principal author of a bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana on Friday vowed to revive his proposal in the incoming 17th Congress.
Reelected Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III urged incoming President Rodrigo Duterte to include in his administration’s list of priorities the bill legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Albano said the bill, which he will refile when 17th Congress convenes this July, would provide accessible, affordable and safe medical cannabis sativa to patients with debilitating medical conditions. He filed House Bill 4477 in the 16th Congress but it was not acted upon.
“I have high hopes under the Duterte administration that this measure would be enacted into law. Finally, there is hope for our people, especially our children, who suffer from medical conditions like epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis,” he said
At a press briefing in Davao, Duterte said he supports the legalization of medicinal marijuana. “Medical marijuana, yes, because it is really an ingredient of modern medicine now. There are medicines right now being developed or already on the market that [contain] marijuana as a component,” the president-elect said.
According to Albano, marijuana has confirmed beneficial and therapeutic uses in treating chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions.
These include cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe and chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy; and severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis, he said.
Under the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis bill, there shall be legalized and regulated use of cannabis for medical purposes, Albano said. It establishes under the Department of Health a medical cannabis regulatory office that will supervise cannabis’ medical use.
Under Albano’s proposal, registered identification (ID) cards shall be issued to qualified patients after a careful review of the documents required and included in the implementing rules and regulations of the proposed law.
“An entity shall operate as a Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center (MCCC) after approval of its application and registration. A MCCC shall guarantee the appropriate dispensation of cannabis and shall not release more than the prescribed dosage for one month to a registered qualified patient or designated caregiver, Albano said.