Studies on medical marijuana limited, experts tell House panel
Seedling marijuana plants. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Medical experts told a House panel hearing Tuesday that studies are still limited in proving that marijuana may be used as medicine.
Dr. Eleanor Almoro, chair of the food and drugs committee under the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), said studies are still limited about medical marijuana.
“There is not yet enough evidence based on clinical studies on medical marijuana,” she said during the hearing of the committee on dangerous drugs.
The PMA is not in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical use, she added.
The House conducted its hearing after Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano III said he plans to file a bill legalizing the use of medical marijuana.
Meanwhile, Dr. Manuel Panopio, president of the Philippine College of Addiction Medicine, said the use of marijuana for medicine has not yet been standardized into safe doses.
“As a medical practitioner, we will be very cautious in using marijuana not until such time that there is evidence-based study with regard to marijuana,” he said.
But supporters of medical marijuana countered the doctors’ claims.
Donna Cunanan of the Philippine Moms for Medical Marijuana appealed to the panel to reconsider, crying as she shared the ordeal of her infant who suffers from epilepsy.
She said they see no recourse but medical marijuana to ease the suffering of her child.
“Ang hinihiling lang namin pagkakataon para magdesisyon para sa aming anak (We just wish we’re given a chance to decide for our children),” Cunanan said while crying.
“Sa ngayon, wala kaming nakikitang paraan kundi medical marijuana (As of now, we see no recourse but to use medical marijuana),” she added.
Albano said legalizing marijuana should give an opportunity for the drug to be studied more for medical uses.
“We want to see more tests. It has to be done through research under controlled circumstances,” the solon said.
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