Sotto: It’s Ejercito’s call if he wants to probe legalized use of marijuana

Sen. JV Ejercito and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines—If Senator JV Ejercito was “enlightened,” he would not indulge in conducting public hearings on legalizing marijuana for medical use considering it is almost campaign period, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday.

Sotto said it is up to Ejercito, who is the chair of Senate committee on Health and Demography, if he wants to conduct public hearings on the matter.

“It’s up to him. Each chairman has his own priorities,” Sotto told reporters in an interview.

“I’m sure if he’s enlightened, he will not indulge in such, considering it’s almost campaign period time,” he added.

Ejerctio earlier said that he intends to conduct public hearings on the legalization of marijuana for medical use to discuss Senator Risa Hontiveros’ bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana and talk about safety mechanisms to prevent substance abuse.

“I think mayroon din [bill] si Senator Risa na naipasa [on legalizing marijuana for medical use]. Siguro in the next round hopefully, if I make it in the next [Congress], kung sakaling ako pa rin, I would want to calendar this already,” Ejercito told reporters in an interview on Tuesday.

“We will hear it. Siguro magpapaalam lang ako as courtesy to our leader [Sotto]. I know he’s very much against it, siguro ipapaalam ko lang, siguro he can attend the hearing and object, and raise his objections and yung mga reason and rationale,” he added.

Ejercito said he intends to invite medical experts and individuals who have personal accounts on the benefits of marijuana for medical use when the hearings push through.

However, the Senate President said in an earlier interview that there is no longer a need to legalize medical marijuana because it is legal already.

He cited a provision in the Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and a Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) compassionate special permit circular.

Sotto also said that it is just a “matter of information campaign” because many people, including legislators, are not aware of this “compassionate use” provision.

READ: Sotto: No need to legalize medical marijuana because it’s already legal

The discussion on legalizing medical marijuana erupted once again when Miss Universe Catriona Gray said she supports the use of marijuana only for medical purposes during her answer when she entered the pageant’s Top 10. /jpv