Dangerous Drugs Board backs medical marijuana use

MANILA, Philippines — The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) yesterday expressed its support for the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

“There is no problem on using marijuana for medical purposes,” DDB chairman Catalino Cuy said.

Cuy also shares the view of Senate President Vicente Sotto III that medical marijuana is allowed under Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs of 2002.

Sotto said under the law, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows the use of medical marijuana if the patient’s attending physician would get a permit from the agency.

The senator is the principal author of RA 9165.

Health officials, however, stressed that the law covers mainly cannabinoid, the active ingredient in cannabis, rather than the plant itself.

What is important, according to Cuy is that there are safeguards which would ensure the drug does not fall into the wrong hands and is not prone to abuse.

“Among the safeguards is it should be properly handled and administered to a patient by a physician,” he said.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), for its part, maintained its support for the compassionate use of marijuana for medical purposes provided there are safety measures.

“Our stand is still the same,” PDEA spokesman Derrick Arnold Carreon said in a text message.

The Department of Health (DOH) would rather not take any position on the matter just yet.

Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said at this time, the department is still undertaking a thorough study on the medical benefits of marijuana.

“The DOH is consulting experts at this time. We need to collect scientific evidence before an official statement is made,” Domingo said in a text message to The STAR.

Pending measures on the legalization of marijuana for medical was raised anew after newly crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray expressed support for such proposal.

Various groups, including medical doctors, have been pushing for the legalization of marijuana for medical use.

Advocates for medical marijuana insisted that access to medical cannabis is a right of every patient.

The Palace has announced that President Duterte is open to signing any measure that will legalize use of marijuana for medical purposes.