House health committee to tackle medical marijuana bill

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Health is set to hear a bill seeking to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes on Tuesday.

House Bill 4477, or the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, was filed by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III in May and was read on the floor for first reading in June. It was then referred to the health committee.

READ: Bill seeking to legalize marijuana for medical purposes filed

The bills seek to legalize marijuana as an alternative medicine for patients who suffer chronic pain, seizure, and severe nausea, among others.

It seeks to task the government to “regulate the medical use of cannabis which has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to treat chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition.”

The bill also aims to establish a Medical Cannabis Compassion Center, the only regulatory body authorized to plant and sell medical marijuana.

The bill has sparked mixed reactions from different sectors since it was filed in May. Albano said the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines is now more open to the legislation of medical marijuana use provided that it will be properly implemented to prevent abuse.

Resource persons from the Department of Health, Food and Drugs Administration, Dangerous Drugs Board, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Cancer Society, and other concerned organizations are expected to attend the House hearing. With a report by Isa Avendaño-Umali