Group pushes medical use of marijuana

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PHOTO: Stock image of marijuana plants STORY: Group pushes medical use of marijuana

MOST ABUSED NARCOTIC | Cannabis sativa is the most abused narcotic in the country. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Haraya Policy Center, a nonprofit organization, is opposing the stand of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) on passing legislation to allow the use of medical marijuana, saying the current laws make the use of the prohibited drug almost impossible, even for compassionate cases.

“We share the PMA’s concern about the unscientific and misguided use of cannabis that could result in harmful consequences … [But] its sweeping generalizations stand on inaccurate information and unscientific assumptions that both misinform and disinform the public,” said Chuck Manansala, president of Haraya, which pushes for the legalization of medical marijuana.

READ: PMA stand on medical marijuana bill ‘inaccurate,’ ‘unscientific’ – group

He said pending legislation aims to provide patients with safe access to medical cannabis and does not propose the decriminalization of cannabis or its recreational use.

—DEXTER CABALZA
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