The Philippine House of Representatives has made a groundbreaking move by overwhelmingly passing a bill that seeks to legalize medical cannabis. This decision represents a significant shift towards cannabis liberalization in Southeast Asia, a region where such legislation has been relatively slow to develop.
House Bill 10439, known as the Medical Cannabis Act, was introduced in May 2024. After intense deliberation, it reached its third and final reading last week and was approved with a striking tally of 177 votes in favor, nine against, and nine abstentions.
If the Senate also greenlights the bill and it receives final approval from the President, the country will establish a robust framework for medical cannabis, overseen by the newly proposed Medical Cannabis Office (MCO).
Senators’ Response and Next Steps
Following the House’s approval, Sen. Robin Padella, President of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino and a long-time advocate for cannabis reform, expressed optimism. “The passage of the bill legalizing medical cannabis is very good news,” he stated, emphasizing his hope for a similar fate for the Cannabis Medicalization Act in the Senate.
Overview of the Medical Cannabis Act
The Medical Cannabis Act aims to create a compassionate treatment alternative for patients by consolidating numerous previous attempts to legalize medical cannabis in the Philippines, combining House Bills 241, 243, 2007, 4208, 4638, 4866, 6783, 7616, 7817, and 9028 into a single, comprehensive proposal.
This legislation recognizes patients’ rights to access medical cannabis and promotes further research into its medicinal benefits. A key feature of the Act is the establishment of the Medical Cannabis Office (MCO) under the Department of Health (DOH), tasked with regulating all aspects of the medical cannabis program.
MCO Responsibilities
- Issuing authorizations to accredited physicians wishing to prescribe medical cannabis, ensuring they are not on the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) watch list.
- Overseeing the entire lifecycle of medical cannabis, including importation, cultivation, manufacture, storage, distribution, prescription, and sale.
- Implementing a sophisticated monitoring system to track cannabis from seed to sale, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Integrating cannabis studies into educational curricula to enhance understanding of its medicinal properties.
Eligible Conditions for Medical Cannabis
The bill specifies several medical conditions that qualify for treatment with medical cannabis, including:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis
- Epilepsy
- HIV
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Other chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorders requiring hospice care
The Bigger Picture
According to the Asian Cannabis Report: 2nd Edition, the DDB and FDA in the Philippines have previously approved the use of CBD for epilepsy, although at a prohibitive cost ranging from $25,000 to $30,000 for a one-year prescription. Meanwhile, the general use of cannabis remains illegal.
The recent legislative advances occur amid ongoing discussions in the Senate and position the Philippines alongside countries like South Korea in the move to embrace medical cannabis. If the Senate concurs and the bill is enacted into law, it could catalyze a broader regional trend toward accepting medical cannabis—echoed by Thailand’s recent steps toward regulating both medical and recreational use.
Despite the Philippines maintaining a tough stance on illegal drugs, organizations like Sensible Philippines hint at changing public perceptions regarding cannabis. Kimmi Del Prado from the organization remarked, “If done properly, the legalization of cannabis in the Philippines will give patients safe access to cannabis-based medicines.” Recent electoral trends suggest a growing openness among newly elected candidates towards cannabis legalization for medical purposes.
Conclusion
The passage of House Bill 10439 marks a pivotal moment for medical cannabis in the Philippines and could lead to improved patient outcomes and expanded access to treatment. As the nation progresses through the legislative process, the eyes of many will be on the Senate’s next steps.
