Senators open to legalizing medical marijuana

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Some lawmakers on Monday said they are open to legalizing medical marijuana in the country.</p><p>Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said the substance is used in treating patients suffering from debilitating conditions, such as epilepsy.</p><p>"Honestly, I’m okay with it because I know some of my friends whose children have epilepsy and it saved them," he said.</p><p>Senator Panfilo Lacson said he wants clear safeguards to be established first to prevent abuse.</p><p>“Gusto ko mapakinggan ang debate. Kung medical, baka puwede. Huwag ang recreational,” Lacson said.</p><p>“Baka mamaya, oo nga ang intention maganda. Medical ang gamit pero baka magkaroon ng proliferation ng marijuana para sa recreational. Ma-defeat ang purpose,” he added.</p><p>Senator Grace Poe is likewise worried about the enforcement of any such law in the country "because it can be abused." She noted, lawmakers have not had a "full-blown hearing" on this matter.</p><p>She also raised concern about the urban structure in the Philippines, where "people are cooped up in one place" because the communities are not developed to be "open livable space(s)."</p><p>"If you have marijuana that’s so accessible, people will just stay na lang siguro at home and bench out. I’m just saying, unless it’s probably dispensed in a hospital, under supervision, maybe," she told ANC's Headstart.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><div id='IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container'> <ivs-player id='IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1' data-ivs-spid='3001339' data-ivs-key='e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603' data-ivs-vid='1397202' data-ivs-floating='1' ></ivs-player> <script src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js'></script> <script src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js'></script> </div></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div><p><a href='http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/first_17/CR00402.pdf'><strong>House Bill 6517</strong></a> or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, which seeks to legalize medical marijuana for medicinal purposes, is pending before the House of Representatives.</p><p>The measure prescribes the rules for the proper use of medical marijuana including the designation of a qualified medical cannabis physician, a qualified medical cannabis patient who shall be issued an identification card, a qualified medical cannabis caregiver and a qualified medical cannabis compassionate center.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/05/17/advocates-assure-of-strict-access-to-medical-marijuana-if-legalized'>Advocates assure of strict access to medical marijuana if legalized</a></li></ul><p>Last year, advocates of the legalization of the substance had also <a href='http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/life/01/19/18/magulang-ng-mga-may-epilepsy-umaasang-gawing-legal-ang-medical-marijuana'><strong>assured</strong></a> that access to the drug will only be for qualified patients.</p><p>Some parents of children with serious mesdical conditions had also called for the passage of the measure.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/05/23/16/duterte-yes-to-medicinal-marijuana'>Duterte: Yes to medicinal marijuana</a></li></ul><p>President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier expressed approval of using medical cannabis.</p><p>On Monday, he joked about using the substance to get through his hectic schedule.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/18/joke-only-duterte-says-he-takes-marijuana'>Joke only: Duterte says he takes marijuana</a></li></ul><p>Possession of at least 10 grams of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, or at least 500 grams of marijuana is punishable with life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million, as stipulated in Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. - <strong>with report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>“Gusto ko mapakinggan ang debate. Kung medical, baka puwede. Huwag ang recreational,” Lacson said.</p><p>“Baka mamaya, oo nga ang intention maganda. Medical ang gamit pero baka magkaroon ng proliferation ng marijuana para sa recreational. Ma-defeat ang purpose,” he added.</p><p>Senator Grace Poe is likewise worried about the enforcement of any such law in the country "because it can be abused." She noted, lawmakers have not had a "full-blown hearing" on this matter.</p><p>She also raised concern about the urban structure in the Philippines, where "people are cooped up in one place" because the communities are not developed to be "open livable space(s)."</p><p>"If you have marijuana that’s so accessible, people will just stay na lang siguro at home and bench out. I’m just saying, unless it’s probably dispensed in a hospital, under supervision, maybe," she told ANC's Headstart.</p><figure class='op-interactive'><div id='IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container'> <ivs-player id='IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1' data-ivs-spid='3001339' data-ivs-key='e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603' data-ivs-vid='1397202' data-ivs-floating='1' ></ivs-player> <script src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js'></script> <script src='https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js'></script> </div></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div><p><a href='http://www.congress.gov.ph/legisdocs/first_17/CR00402.pdf'><strong>House Bill 6517</strong></a> or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, which seeks to legalize medical marijuana for medicinal purposes, is pending before the House of Representatives.</p><p>The measure prescribes the rules for the proper use of medical marijuana including the designation of a qualified medical cannabis physician, a qualified medical cannabis patient who shall be issued an identification card, a qualified medical cannabis caregiver and a qualified medical cannabis compassionate center.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/05/17/advocates-assure-of-strict-access-to-medical-marijuana-if-legalized'>Advocates assure of strict access to medical marijuana if legalized</a></li></ul><p>Last year, advocates of the legalization of the substance had also <a href='http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/life/01/19/18/magulang-ng-mga-may-epilepsy-umaasang-gawing-legal-ang-medical-marijuana'><strong>assured</strong></a> that access to the drug will only be for qualified patients.</p><p>Some parents of children with serious mesdical conditions had also called for the passage of the measure.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/05/23/16/duterte-yes-to-medicinal-marijuana'>Duterte: Yes to medicinal marijuana</a></li></ul><p>President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier expressed approval of using medical cannabis.</p><p>On Monday, he joked about using the substance to get through his hectic schedule.</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/18/joke-only-duterte-says-he-takes-marijuana'>Joke only: Duterte says he takes marijuana</a></li></ul><p>Possession of at least 10 grams of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, or at least 500 grams of marijuana is punishable with life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million, as stipulated in Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. - <strong>with report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>"Honestly, I’m okay with it because I know some of my friends whose children have epilepsy and it saved them," he said.</p><p>Senator Panfilo Lacson said he wants clear safeguards to be established first to prevent abuse.</p>

<p>MANILA - Some lawmakers on Monday said they are open to legalizing medical marijuana in the country.</p><p>Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said the substance is used in treating patients suffering from debilitating conditions, such as epilepsy.</p>

<p>MANILA - Some lawmakers on Monday said they are open to legalizing medical marijuana in the country.</p>

MANILA - Some lawmakers on Monday said they are open to legalizing medical marijuana in the country.

Senators open to legalizing medical marijuana | ABS-CBN News

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Senators open to legalizing medical marijuana

Senators open to legalizing medical marijuana