House health panel passes bill legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes

September 26, 2017

The House committee on health has approved a panel report of a measure seeking to legalize the use of cannabis or marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The committee, led by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, endorsed for plenary approval a substitute bill of House Bill (HB) No. 180 filed by Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano.

“It is already approved in the [House] committee on health. I am very positive that the bill will approved in the plenary. I see minimal opposition to the bill,” said Albano, author of the proposed Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act.

"I think the majority will vote for it. There's a strong clamor now to support the bill,” said Albano, a member of the powerful 12-man House contingent to the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Earlier, the panel created a technical working group (TWG) to scrutinize and hammer out the provisions of proposed law.

The Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) proposed safeguards must be there to ensure the medicinal use of marijuana would not be abused.

He expressed optimism that his proposal would finally see the light this 17th Congress amid President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte's intensified war against illegal drugs.

Albano called on his colleagues anew to pass his measure to help thousands of patients suffering from serious and debilitating diseases.

“We are not decriminalizing marijuana,” said Albano.

“I have high hopes under the Duterte administration that this measure would be enacted into law.  Finally, there is hope for our people, especially our children, who suffer from medical conditions like epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis,” said Albano. DMS