DOH: Law on medical marijuana must be science-based

A marijuana plant. (File photo from Agence France-Presse)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday that any effort to legalize the use of medical cannabis should be based on the best available scientific evidence, with cost-effectiveness and public health impact among the considerations.

“Legislation should also consider the regulatory capacity of all government agencies that will be involved should there be approval. However, the DOH does not support either the cultivation of cannabis plants or the manufacture of the cannabis products,” it said in a statement.

The DOH also reminded the public that using marijuana remains punishable by law “unless granted a compassionate special permit signed by the Food and Drug Administration director general that would allow its use and importation in the country.”

In a meeting earlier in the day, medical doctors from all over the country reiterated their opposition to a proposed law in the House of Representatives allowing the use of marijuana or cannabis for medical purposes, citing its risks and the possible “opening of the floodgates” for its legalization and recreational use.

Stand unchanged

Members of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) led by its president, Dr. Maria Minerva Calimag, said their position has not changed in the past 10 years that lawmakers have been trying to pass a law legalizing the use of medical marijuana, which would remove cannabis and its derivatives from the country’s list of prohibited drugs.

“We want to educate the public [about the dangers of marijuana]. We want to stop [our lawmakers from their proposed law to legalize medical marijuana]. Our lawmakers have a moral and legal responsibility to safeguard [the well-being of the public],” health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon said in the PMA meeting held at its head office in Quezon City.

Members of the 98,202-strong umbrella organization of physicians in the country reiterated their opposition to the bill allowing the medical use of marijuana, which was approved by the House Joint Committee on Dangerous Drugs and Health last week.

A copy of the unnumbered bill has yet to be published on the website of the House of Representatives.

For members of the PMA, lawmakers should focus instead on other pressing issues, including the proper implementation of the 5-year-old Universal Health Care Act and improving accessibility to other medicines that have been scientifically proven to treat various diseases.

“If our lawmakers do not see the problem and they focus on the legislation of medical cannabis, then we will be the Colombia of Southeast Asia,” Leachon warned, referring to the Latin American country which is notorious for being the world’s top producer of cocaine.

Bad for PH reputation

“We will be the ones exporting these (marijuana). It will lead to the tainting of the good image of our country,” he added.

“The bigger picture is that we might open the floodgates for the legalization of recreational marijuana. This bill is a de facto for recreational marijuana,” Leachon said.

READ: House joint committee approves medical marijuana bill

A number of countries, including Thailand and Canada, which have legalized marijuana are now trying to reverse their policy, citing increased hospitalization, particularly cannabis poisoning among the youth.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, House dangerous drugs committee chair, clarified that the proposed law would not legalize marijuana as it would remain on the dangerous drugs list under the Comprehensive and Dangerous Drugs Act of 2022.