Parents appeal for passage of medical marijuana bill in 18th Congress

MANILA, Philippines — Several parents of patients suffering from different debilitating diseases have appealed for the passage of the medical cannabis (marijuana) bill in the 18th Congress.

Stakeholders of the proposed law met Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio Albano on Monday prior to the start of the deliberations on the medical marijuana bills filed in the lower chamber.

Girlie Mapa attended the meeting. On her lap was her daughter who suffers from epileptic seizures every day. She hopes Julia could still see the day that medical marijuana would be legalized in the country.

“Itong 18th Congress umaasa po ako na maabutan pa ni (Julia), kasi everyday talaga ‘yung seizure nya… Apat na po ‘yung neuro na tumitingin sa kanya… sinasabi sa kanya na ‘yun na lang ang pag-asa namin kung kaya namin pumunta ng ibang bansa…” Mapa said in between sobs.

She said they have tried 11 medicines in five years, but all of these have no significant effect on her daughter’s seizures.

Cynthia Vargas, who has a child with autism and epilepsy, echoed Mapa’s plea.

“Hinihiling lang po talaga namin bigyan po kami ng safe access, affordable at saka available dahil ang mahal mahal po ng gamot sa abroad…” Vargas said.

Michelle Ballesteros, whose son’s brain did not fully develop, similarly lamented how some people question their intentions.

“Many times po na-accuse na po kami that we are being used and that’s the sad part… Kami po ay grupo ng mga magulang na umaasa na sana po sa 18th Congress pagbigyan nyo naman po kami before it’s too late,” Ballesteros said.

“We have countless members who have died… Please don’t deny this boy a chance to enjoy his life because he has a good life ahead of him,” she added.

Albano’s House Bill No. 279 seeks to legalize and regulate the use of medical cannabis and expand research into its medicinal properties. The same bill was passed on third reading by the House but failed to become a law under the 17th Congress.

The proposed law seeks to help patients suffering from debilitating diseases and mandates the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to regulate medical cannabis.

The bill would also allow medical cannabis to be available to qualified patients with IDs to be issued by DOH. It also provides criteria for qualified medical cannabis physician and caregiver. It would also authorize the University of the Philippines (UP) National Institute of Health, the Health Sciences Center of the UP System, the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care and other organizations to conduct research on the use of medical cannabis.

During the meeting, Albano underscored that the bill would not support the recreational use of marijuana.

“It’s important for us to, first and foremost, make sure that the medical aspect gets passed first before we deal with recreation because I am totally against as of this moment the inclusion of recreational purposes of marijuana…” the lawmaker said.

1Pacman Reps. Enrico Pineda and Michael Romero also filed a similar bill, House Bill No. 2486.

Both bills are pending at the committee on health since July 23 and July 30, respectively.

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