Cannabis use in consumer products banned

MANILA, Philippines - While lawmakers are debating the legalization of medical marijuana, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have banned the use of marijuana in consumer products.

In a joint advisory yesterday, the FDA and PDEA said the use of “hempseed oil or their varieties and derivatives from cannabis or marijuana in consumer products” is prohibited in the country to protect the public from the harmful effects of dangerous drugs.

Certain countries classify marijuana as a prohibited drug but allow the sale of products such as soap and chocolate containing cannabis.

Covered by the FDA ban are marijuana from the species of the plant Cannabis sativa L, including but not limited to Cannabis americana, hashish, bhang, guaza, churrus and ganjab or any of its other names.

Hempseed oil products or their varieties and derivatives from cannabis or marijuana must be surrendered to FDA or PDEA “without prejudice to the filing of any administrative/criminal sanctions under Republic Act 9165 and/or Republic Act 7394,” the joint advisory said.

The FDA and PDEA urged the public to report and surrender the prohibited products to them immediately.  

All manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, importers, dealers and retailers of the consumer products are also bound to declare the sources of hempseed oil products or their varieties and derivatives in their labels or in writing to FDA or PDEA for verification and investigation.

FDA and PDEA asked the local government units to monitor and report the proliferation of hempseed oil products or their varieties and derivatives from cannabis or marijuana in their respective jurisdictions.

 Earlier, Isabela first district Rep. Rodolfo Albano III filed House Bill 447 seeking to legalize the use of medical marijuana.