Yes, we should make medical marijuana legal. However, I disagree with use for recreational purposes.

Because if
anyone were to contradict this, I believe they should include alcohol and tobacco. Therefore, marijuana is good as
long as it is used in moderation and with the authority's consent.

The use of medical marijuana has been under discussion ever since, and studies have shown that it can treat various
conditions. The use of medical marijuana is permitted in other nations, thus those who support it in the Philippines now have
renewed hope after a medical marijuana measure was introduced in the senate. The question is if medical marijuana can be
legalized in our country. One of the  members and spokeswoman for the Philippine Cannabis Compassionate Society, or
PCCS, Donnabel raised her voice to be heard by the authority for the PCCS group. The group wants to give Filipinos who
require medical cannabis access to it.

“Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” recognized the medical use of drugs classified as dangerous drugs,
including marijuana, when it said in Section 2: “The government shall, however aim to achieve a
balance in the national drug control program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not
prevented from being treated with adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use
of dangerous drugs.”

There are currently 70 nations using medical cannabis or medical marijuana, and in Asia, Thailand was the first to legalize
marijuana. Recently, a bill pushed by Senator Robin Padilla aimed to make affordable medical cannabis available to Filipinos
who needed it. It's unfortunate that it's so difficult for the parents of the children with those diseases to find a place where
they can receive medical cannabis because they're afraid of getting caught, says Robin Padilla, who argues that patients who
don't develop drug addictions have easy access to affordable medical cannabis. Before the bill proposed by Senator Robin
Padilla, several bills had been submitted in Congress since 2014, but they were rejected by the Senate. Senator Robin Padilla
argued that it was time to approve the bill and use medicinal cannabis to provide hope to those in need.

Senator Padilla recently introduced Senate Bill 230, also known as the Medical Cannabis Compassionate Act of the
Philippines, which encourages the use of medical cannabis for Filipinos suffering from conditions like epilepsy. Marijuana
and cannabis contain chemicals like Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and cannabidiol, or CBD, which are used as medicinal
ingredients for diseases like epilepsy, seizures, and nausea or severe vomiting. Cannabis was determined to provide moderate
to high-quality evidence of efficacy, effectiveness, and safety in research conducted in the US from 2016 to 2019.

According to Senate Bill No. 230, which was introduced by Senator Robin Padilla and is described as an act
granting access to medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative method of treatment, advancing research into its
therapeutic benefits, listing prohibited behaviors and outlining penalties therefor, among other things, Marijuana,
also known as cannabis, has a long history of human use as a herbal medicine before being classified as a drug with
a high potential for abuse. it was originally used medicinal purpose.

Ayon sa Senate Bill No. 230, na ipinakilala ni Senador Robin Padilla at inilarawan bilang isang aksyon na
nagbibigay ng access sa medikal na cannabis bilang isang mahabagin na alternatibong paraan ng paggamot,
pagsusulong ng pananaliksik sa mga benepisyong panterapeutika nito, paglilista ng mga ipinagbabawal na pag-
uugali at pagbalangkas ng mga parusa para doon, kasama ng iba pang mga bagay, ang Marijuana, na kilala rin
bilang cannabis, ay may mahabang kasaysayan ng paggamit ng tao bilang isang herbal na gamot bago mauri bilang
isang gamot na may mataas na potensyal para sa pang-aabuso. ito ay orihinal na ginamit na layuning panggamot.

begins in 2737 B.C. when marijuana tea was recommended as a cure for gout, rheumatism, malaria, and memory loss.
Additionally, it gained acceptance as a medication throughout time in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Even certain Hindu
sects in India utilize marijuana for therapeutic and religious reasons.

The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND) voted on December 2, 2020, to remove cannabis from
Schedule IV of their list of illegal drugs. Dangerous and highly addictive drugs like heroin and fentanyl are listed in Schedule
IV. The UN still classifies cannabis as a controlled substance, but the reclassification is anticipated to support research into
the drug's therapeutic and medical uses. The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that various scientific
research support the idea that cannabis intake is effective in relieving pain and nausea. Multiple sclerosis and epilepsy
symptoms can be treated with cannabis successfully. More than thirty (30) nations have approved the use of medical
cannabis, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.
-Ang United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UNCND) ay bumoto noong Disyembre 2, 2020, upang alisin
ang cannabis sa Schedule IV ng kanilang listahan ng mga ilegal na droga. Ang mga mapanganib at lubhang
nakakahumaling na gamot tulad ng heroin at fentanyl ay nakalista sa Iskedyul IV. Inuuri pa rin ng UN ang cannabis
bilang isang kinokontrol na substansiya, ngunit ang reclassification ay inaasahang suportahan ang pananaliksik sa
therapeutic at medikal na paggamit ng gamot. Kinikilala ng World Health Organization (WHO) na ang iba't ibang
siyentipikong pananaliksik ay sumusuporta sa ideya na ang paggamit ng cannabis ay epektibo sa pag-alis ng sakit.
Ang mga sintomas ng multiple sclerosis at epilepsy ay matagumpay na maaaring gamutin gamit ang cannabis.
Mahigit sa tatlumpung (30) bansa ang nag-apruba sa paggamit ng medikal na cannabis, kabilang ang Canada,
Denmark, Finland, Israel, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, at Switzerland.

Thailand has become the first nation in Asia to decriminalize marijuana for medical purposes. The active ingredients in
medical marijuana, known as cannabinoids, are compounds that the body naturally produces that are involved in pain,
memory, appetite, and movement. The cannabinoid-based medication Epidlolex was approved by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 2018 as a treatment for severe seizure disorders. Additionally, it authorized the use of oral
cannabinoids to treat nausea and vomiting as side effects of chemotherapy, such as dronabinol and Nabilone.

Based on the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 153,751 new cancer cases and 92,606 cancer
deaths in the Philippines in 2020 To Manage serious and debilitating diseases, desperate patients are inclined to illegally
obtain marijuana to provide the much-needed remedy. Although experiences abroad To provide evidence of its efficacy, the
State must intervene to assure that users consume only the proper and needed doses and in a form manufactured in an
environment approved by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

-Ayon sa WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, mayroong 153,751 bagong kaso ng cancer at 92,606
na namatay dahil sa cancer sa Pilipinas noong 2020. Ang mga mahihirap na pasyente ay mas malamang na
makakuha ng marijuana sa ilegal na paraan upang mapangasiwaan ang kanilang malala at nakakapanghinang sakit.
Bagama't maaaring patunayan ng mga karanasan sa ibang bansa ang pagiging epektibo nito, dapat na kumilos ang
Estado upang matiyak na ang mga gumagamit ay umiinom lamang ng tama at kinakailangang halaga sa isang form
na ginawa sa isang pasilidad na inaprubahan ng Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

The State should, by way of exception, allow the use of cannabis for compassionate purposes to promote the health and well-
being of citizens proven to be in dire need of such while at the same time providing the strictest regulations to ensure that
abuses for casual use or profiteering be avoided. 

-Sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukod, na payagan ang paggamit ng cannabis para sa mga layuning maitaguyod ang
kalusugan at kagalingan ng mga mamamayan na napatunayang lubhang nangangailangan ng lunas sa sakit habang
nagbibigay ng mga mahigpit na regulasyon upang matiyak na ang mga pang-aabuso sa kaswal na paggamit o
pagkakakitaan ay iwasan.

We should legalize and regulate the medical use of marijuana which has been confirmed to have
beneficial and therapeutic uses to treat chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition.

WHAT IS MEDICAL MARIJUANA/ MARIJUANA

According to research, Marijuana, also known as cannabis, has a long history of human use as herbal medicine
before being classified as a drug with a high potential for abuse that could bring a variety of harmful effects to its
user. Its first recorded use as medicine In fact dates back to 2737 B.C. when It was prescribed as marijuana tea for
the treatment of gout, rheumatism, malaria, and poor memory. Over time, it likewise became popular as
medicine throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Certain Hindu sects in India even use marijuana for
religious purposes and for stress relief. On 02 December 2020, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs
(UN CND) voted to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of their drug classification list. Schedule IV includes
dangerous and highly addictive drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. While cannabis is still deemed as a controlled
substance by the UN, the reclassification is expected to bolster efforts to study the drug's medical and
therapeutic benefits. More than thirty (30) countries including Canada, Denmark, Finiand, Israel, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland have approved the use of medical cannabis. In Asia, Thailand has become
the first country to decriminalize cannabis for medical use.
Based on the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were 153,751 new cancer cases and
92,606 cancer deaths in the Philippines in 2020. To manage serious and debilitating diseases, desperate patients
are inclined to illegally obtain marijuana to provide the much-needed remedy.
MEDICAL PROPERTIES OF MARIJUANA

When is medical marijuana appropriate?

Studies report that medical cannabis has possible benefit for several conditions. State laws vary in which
conditions qualify people for treatment with medical marijuana. If you're considering marijuana for medical use,
check your state's regulations.
Depending on the state, you may qualify for treatment with medical marijuana if you meet certain requirements
and have a qualifying condition, such as:

 Alzheimer's disease
 Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
 HIV/AIDS
 Crohn's disease
 Epilepsy and seizures
 Glaucoma
 Multiple sclerosis and muscle spasms
 Severe and chronic pain
 Severe nausea or vomiting caused by cancer treatment

How Can CBD Be Used To Benefit Health?

Note: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in marijuana.

There’s no doubt that CBD has become quite popular and has generated a new industry — you can even earn a
degree in Cannabis Entrepreneurship* here at JWU (Johnson & Wales University). While researchers are still
working to understand how effectively CBD can be used for medical purposes, there have already been a lot of
promising results. Here are seven ways that CBD has been proven to benefit health. 

1. Lowering blood pressure 

A study conducted by JCI Insight in 2017 found that CBD lowered the blood pressure of human participants. It
reduced their resting blood pressure as well as their blood pressure after stress tests including mental arithmetic,
isometric exercise, and the cold pressor test. 
2. Reducing inflammation 
CBD has been proven to help reduce inflammation and the neuropathic pain it can cause, according to a  study by
the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research. 
3. Preventing relapse in drug and alcohol addiction 
A 2018 study discovered that CBD can be useful in helping people who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. A
preclinical trial with lab rats determined that CBD reduced the stress-induced cravings, anxiety and lack of
impulse control that often cause people to relapse. 
4. Treating anxiety disorders 
Anxiety is perhaps the most common affliction that people have used CBD for, and a preclinical study found that
CBD could be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-
compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 
5. Treating gastrointestinal (GI) disorders 
A recent study found that CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids can effectively be used to prevent and
treat GI disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's, ulcerative
colitis and more. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties are key to reducing and preventing symptoms. 
6. Preventing seizures 
Decades of research have gone into using CBD to treat epilepsy and other seizure syndromes, and a recent
study showed it can have positive effects in reducing symptoms and seizure frequency. 
7. Fighting cancer 
Not only has CBD been used to help alleviate the effects of chemotherapy, but studies have also found it can
prevent cell growth and induce cell death in cervical cancer cell lines and it has numerous anti-cancer effects that
can help prevent a variety of cancers, treat tumors, and benefit the immune system. 

GOOD AND BAD SIDE EFFECTS OF MARIJUANA

Is medical marijuana safe?

Further study is needed to answer this question, but possible side effects of medical marijuana may include:

 Increased heart rate

 Dizziness
 Impaired concentration and memory
 Slower reaction times
 Negative drug-to-drug interactions
 Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
 Increased appetite
 Potential for addiction
 Hallucinations or mental illness
 Withdrawal symptoms
Some medical marijuana is formulated to provide symptom relief without the intoxicating, mood-altering effects
associated with recreational use of marijuana.

STUDIES/ ARTICLES/ JOURNALS REGARDING THE MEDICAL USES OF MARIJUANA, ITS POTENTIAL BENEFITS,
ADVERSE EFFECTS, AND POLICY DIRECTIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS REGARDING THE MEDICINAL
MARIJUANA
“Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis: A Patient Survey”
According to a research conducted by Charles W. Webb (Doctor of Medicine) and Sandra M. Webb (Registered
nurse and a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing), with the title “Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis: A
Patient Survey”, 97% percent of their respondents claimed that they use medical marijuana primarily for relief of
chronic pain.
Other reported therapeutic benefits included relief from stress/anxiety (50% of their respondents), relief of
insomnia (45%), improved appetite (12%), decreased nausea (10%), increased focus/concentration (9%), and
relief from depression (7%). Several patients wrote notes (see below) relating that cannabis helped them to
decrease or discontinue medications for pain, anxiety, and insomnia.
Six patients (6%) wrote brief notes relating how cannabis helped them to decrease or to discontinue other
medications.
Comments included the following:
“Medical cannabis replaced my need for oxycodone. Now I don't need them at all.”
“I do not need Xanax anymore.”
“In the last two years I have been able to drop meds for anxiety, sleep, and depression.”
“I've cut back 18 pills on my morphine dosage.”
A majority (71%) reported no adverse effects, while 6% reported a cough and/or throat irritation and 5% reported
a fear of arrest. All other adverse effects were less than 5%. No serious adverse effects were reported.
“Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use”
Authors: Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Ruben D. Baler, Ph.D., Wilson M. Compton, M.D., and Susan R.B. Weiss, Ph.D.

Adverse Effects of Short-Term Use and Long-Term or Heavy Use of Marijuana

Effects of short-term use

 Impaired short-term memory, making it difficult to learn and to retain information

 Impaired motor coordination, interfering with driving skills and increasing the risk of injuries
 Altered judgment, increasing the risk of sexual behaviors that facilitate the transmission of sexually
transmitted diseases
 In high doses, paranoia and psychosis
Effects of long-term or heavy use

 Addiction (in about 9% of users overall, 17% of those who begin use in adolescence, and 25 to 50% of
those who are daily users)*
 Altered brain development*
 Poor educational outcome, with increased likelihood of dropping out of school*
 Cognitive impairment, with lower IQ among those who were frequent users during adolescence*
 Diminished life satisfaction and achievement (determined on the basis of subjective and objective
measures as compared with such ratings in the general population)*
 Symptoms of chronic bronchitis
 Increased risk of chronic psychosis disorders (including schizophrenia) in persons with a predisposition to
such disorders
“Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications for the Acute Care Setting”
By: Mary Barna Bridgeman, PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy), BCPS (Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist),
BCGP (Board Certified Geriatric Pharmacist) and Daniel T. Abazia, PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy), BCPS (Board-
Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist), CPE (Certified Physician Executive)

THE PROS AND CONS OF USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA

THE PROS

Americans overwhelmingly support the legalization of marijuana. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center,
91% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. Of those, 60% say it should be legal for medical and recreational
use and 31% say it should be legal for medical reasons only.3

Several possible health benefits of medical marijuana have been proposed:

 Nausea: Marijuana is effective in relieving nausea and vomiting. Studies have shown that cannabis can
decrease nausea caused by chemotherapy and almost eliminate vomiting. 4
 Muscle relaxant: Marijuana can relieve the muscle tightness that is sometimes associated with multiple
sclerosis and paralysis.
 Appetite: Marijuana can help treat appetite loss associated with conditions like HIV/AIDS and certain
types of cancers.
 Chronic pain: Marijuana can relieve certain types of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, which is
caused by nerve damage.

And arguments in favor of using medical marijuana include:

 It's safer: Marijuana is safer than some other medications prescribed to treat pain. For example, some
people may use it instead of opioids for pain management. Opioids are highly addictive and are typically not
recommended for long-term use in treating chronic pain.6
 You can use it in many ways : You do not need to smoke cannabis for its benefits. Products such
as cannabidiol oil (CBD), topical pain relief treatments, edibles, and other non-smoking applications are now
available.7
 You don't need to get high: As studies continue, researchers are finding benefits in the individual compounds
in cannabis. When these chemicals are isolated—such as CBD has been—they can offer treatment options
without the "high" produced by the compound commonly known as THC.8
 It's natural: People have used marijuana for centuries as a natural medicinal agent with good results.

THE CONS

Although marijuana has many benefits, there are still some downsides. Some of the arguments from those who
oppose its use include:

 Memory: Frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory. 9
 Cognition: Frequent use can impair your cognitive (thinking) abilities.
 Lung damage: Smoking anything, whether it's tobacco or marijuana, can damage your lung tissue. 10 In
addition, smoking marijuana could increase the risk of lung cancer.
 Potential for abuse: Marijuana carries a risk of abuse and addiction.
 Accidents: Marijuana use impairs driving skills and increases the risk for car collisions. 11
 Illegal: Marijuana is illegal under federal law. The federal drug scheduling system classifies marijuana as a
Schedule I drug in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), alongside heroin. 2 This classification says that the
substances have no currently accepted medicinal value.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND WARNINGS ABOUT USING MEDICAL CANNABIS

This document is for patients and caregivers who have questions about medical cannabis use. It contains an
overview of cannabis-related concerns for youth, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people at risk for
dependence or addiction, people with mental health conditions, and those with heart or liver disease.

What to know before getting started with medical cannabis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved one cannabis-derived drug product: Epidiolex (cannabidiol),
and three synthetic cannabis-related drug products: Marinol (dronabinol), Syndros (dronabinol), and Cesamet
(nabilone). All other forms of medical cannabis are not approved by the FDA. 1 For most medical conditions, more
study of medical cannabis is needed to understand its proper role in comprehensive medical care. Use of medical
cannabis products may or may not relieve your symptoms. Existing studies of medical cannabis suggest symptom
relief can vary from patient to patient. Side effects are common. Some of the most common side effects are
dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, light-headedness, drowsiness, and nausea. Side effects are usually mild or
moderate and usually stop quickly, but sometimes severe side effects occur. Talk to a pharmacist at a Medical
Cannabis Dispensary if side effects appear.

Talk with your health care practitioner about medical cannabis

Like any drug, medical cannabis can interfere with other drugs you are taking. Blood levels of other medications
might need to be checked, and doses of the medications might need to be adjusted to avoid any adverse side
effects. Medical cannabis can also affect your body in other ways. For example, inhaled medical cannabis (whole
plant or vaped product) can cause dry mouth, which can increase your risk for cavities or other dental issues.

Start slow, go slow, stay low

To avoid having unpleasant side effects, it is best to start at a low dose and then increase the dose slowly over
time until symptoms are relieved, or side effects develop. Talk to the pharmacist at your Medical Cannabis
Dispensary to follow this approach. Studies show that there is typically an upper limit to the effects of medical
cannabis. Beyond 20-40 mg/day for THC and 50-100 mg/day for CBD, most patients will not get any additional
benefit from a higher dose. 3,4,5 Talk to a pharmacist at a Medical Cannabis Dispensary about whether and how
to increase dosage, and what to do if side effects appear.
Tip for new patients: You might want to purchase less than a 30-day supply of medical cannabis during your first
few visits to a Medical Cannabis Dispensary until you learn how you respond to a particular medical cannabis
product.
 MEDICINAL USES OF CANNABIS

Notes:

 Cannabis is another term for marijuana.

 THS stands for “Tetrahydrocannabinol” and is the major psychoactive component and one of the 113
cannabinoids recognized in cannabis.
 Cannabinoid is a type of chemical in marijuana that causes drug-like effects all through the body, including
the central nervous system and the immune system
 CBD stands for “Cannabidiol” which is a compound found in marijuana.

Cannabis and cannabinoid agents are widely used to alleviate symptoms or treat disease, but their efficacy for
specific indications is not well established. For chronic pain, the analgesic effect remains unclear. A systematic
review of randomized controlled trials was conducted examining cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic
noncancer pain, including smoked cannabis, oromucosal extracts of cannabis-based medicine, nabilone,
dronabinol, and a novel THC analogue. Pain conditions included neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid
arthritis, and mixed chronic pain. Fifteen of the 18 included trials demonstrated a significant analgesic effect of
cannabinoids compared with placebo. Cannabinoid use was generally well tolerated; adverse effects most
commonly reported were mild to moderate in severity. Overall, evidence suggests that cannabinoids are safe
and moderately effective in neuropathic pain with preliminary evidence of efficacy in fibromyalgia and
rheumatoid arthritis.
While there is not enough evidence to suggest routine use of medicinal cannabis for alleviating chemotherapy-
related nausea and vomiting by national or international cancer societies, therapeutic agents based on THC (e.g.,
dronabinol) have been approved for use as an antiemetic in the United States for a number of years. Only
recently has the efficacy and safety of cannabis-based medicines in managing nausea and vomiting due to
chemotherapy been evaluated. In a review of 23 randomized, controlled trials, patients who received cannabis-
based products experienced less nausea and vomiting than subjects who received placebo. 56 The proportion of
people experiencing nausea and vomiting who received cannabis-based products was similar to those receiving
conventional antiemetics. Subjects using cannabis-based products experienced side effects such as “feeling
high,” dizziness, sedation, and dysphoria and dropped out of the studies at a higher rate due to adverse effects
compared with participants receiving either placebo or conventional antiemetics.
In crossover trials in which patients received cannabis-based products and conventional antiemetics, patients
preferred the cannabis-based medicines. Cannabis-based medications may be useful for treating chemotherapy-
induced nausea and vomiting that responds poorly to conventional antiemetics. However, the trials produced low
to moderate quality evidence and reflected chemotherapy agents and antiemetics that were available in the
1980s and 1990s.
With regard to the management of neurological disorders, including epilepsy and MS, a Cochrane review of
four clinical trials that included 48 epileptic patients using CBD as an adjunct treatment to other antiepileptic
medications concluded that there were no serious adverse effects associated with CBD use but that no reliable
conclusions on the efficacy and safety of the therapy can be drawn from this limited evidence.57 The American
Academy of Neurology (AAN) has issued a Summary of Systematic Reviews for Clinicians that indicates oral
cannabis extract is effective for reducing patient-reported spasticity scores and central pain or painful spasms
when used for MS.58 THC is probably effective for reducing patient-reported spasticity scores but is likely
ineffective for reducing objective measures of spasticity at 15 weeks, the AAN found; there is limited evidence
to support the use of cannabis extracts for treatment of Huntington’s disease, levodopa-induced dyskinesias in
patients with Parkinson’s disease, or reducing tic severity in Tourette’s. 58
In older patients, medical cannabinoids have shown no efficacy on dyskinesia, breathlessness, and
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Some evidence has shown that THC might be useful in treatment
of anorexia and behavioral symptoms in patients with dementia. The most common adverse events reported
during cannabinoid treatment in older adults were sedation-like symptoms. 59
Despite limited clinical evidence, a number of medical conditions and associated symptoms have been approved
by state legislatures as qualifying conditions for medicinal cannabis use. 
The most common conditions accepted by states that allow medicinal cannabis relate to relief of the symptoms
of cancer, glaucoma, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and MS. A total of
28 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico now allow comprehensive public medical marijuana
and cannabis programs.10 The National Conference of State Legislatures uses the following criteria to determine
if a program is comprehensive:

REPORTED CASES OF USAGE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA/ DISEASES CURED/POSSIBLY CURED BY MARIJUANA

The most common use for medical marijuana in the United States is for pain control. While marijuana isn’t strong
enough for severe pain (for example, post-surgical pain or a broken bone), it is quite effective for the chronic pain
that plagues millions of Americans, especially as they age. Part of its allure is that it is clearly safer than opiates (it
is impossible to overdose on and far less addictive) and it can take the place of NSAIDs such as Advil or Aleve, if
people can’t take them due to problems with their kidneys or ulcers or GERD. In particular, marijuana appears to
ease the pain of multiple sclerosis, and nerve pain in general.
This is an area where few other options exist, and those that do, such as Neurontin, Lyrica, or opiates are highly
sedating. Patients claim that marijuana allows them to resume their previous activities without feeling completely
out of it and disengaged. Along these lines, marijuana is said to be a fantastic muscle relaxant, and people swear
by its ability to lessen tremors in Parkinson’s disease. I have also heard of its use quite successfully for
fibromyalgia, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and most other conditions where the final common pathway is
chronic pain. Marijuana is also used to manage nausea and weight loss and can be used to treat glaucoma. A
highly promising area of research is its use for PTSD in veterans who are returning from combat zones. Many
veterans and their therapists report drastic improvement and clamor for more studies, and for a loosening of
governmental restrictions on its study. Medical marijuana is also reported to help patients suffering from pain
and wasting syndrome associated with HIV, as well as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease.

WHY SHOULD LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

 Legalizing medical marijuana can be beneficial to medicine because it can provide several healthcare benefits
in curing diseases. It offers advantages that could lessen the suffering of millions of people who suffer from
conditions like AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, chronic pain,
and other afflictions. The economy will grow as marijuana disappears from the black market, and it may
reduce opiate overdose deaths.
 We should legalize medical marijuana use in the Philippines because of the numerous benefits. It provides to
people suffering from rare diseases for which the only cure is the use of medical marijuana supplements. The
PCCS organization in the Philippines wants to legalize the use of medical marijuana because many of its
members have relatives or children with epilepsy who suffer from severe illnesses and want to find a cure.

SENATE BILLS ( REFERENCE FOR SENATE BILL IN THE PH )

“Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the
American Heart Association”
A Scientific Journal From CIRCULATION; Policy Considerations and Future Directions
Because of the rapidly changing landscape of cannabis laws and marijuana use, there is a pressing need for
refined policy, education of clinicians and the public, and new research. Laws should be harmonized in ways that
limit confusion and better reflect the existing science behind cannabis, starting in the United States at the federal
level with removal of cannabis from Schedule 1 of the US Controlled Substances Act, followed by a proactive
approach to labeling that standardizes concentrations of THC and CBD content. Meanwhile, the negative health
implications of cannabis should be formally and consistently emphasized in policy, including a doubling down on
the American Heart Association’s commitment to limiting the smoking and vaping of any products and banning
cannabis use for youth. All clinicians (physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, and others)
need greater exposure to and education on the various cannabis products and their health implications during
their initial training and continuing education, and they must be alert to the possibility that the use of cannabis or
its potent synthetic analogs might be the underlying cause of severe cardiovascular events and pathologies. The
public needs high-quality information about cannabis, which can help counterbalance the proliferation of rumor
and false claims about the health effects of cannabis products. Furthermore, research funding must be increased
proportionally to match the expansion of cannabis use, not only to clarify the potential therapeutic properties but
also to better understand the cardiovascular and public health implications that now follow the decriminalization
of cannabis. Table 5 summarizes the needs and specific actions that should be considered.

Table 5. Future Needs and Specific Actions

Need Specific Action

Legal  Harmonize international, national,

and regional laws; in the United
States, this should start with removal
of cannabis from Schedule 1 of the US
Controlled Substances Act at the
federal level to allow a more nuanced
approach to marijuana legislation and
regulation.

 Remove legal barriers to research

funding and clinical trials.

 Create a supportive, robust public

health infrastructure to address
critical aspects of public health
response, including surveillance,
prevention, countermarketing, and
public safety.

 Integrate marijuana into

comprehensive tobacco control and
prevention policy.

 Support laws and regulation that

prevent cannabis use in minors.

 Integrate equity considerations into

policy development of marijuana-
related laws to ensure that racial and
ethnic disparities are not further
exacerbated. Jurisdictions will need to
consider the removal or expungement
of criminal records of existing
offenders, age restrictions, juvenile
offenses, and other legal implications
and processes that may result from
legalization or decriminalization of
marijuana.

 Support comprehensive FDA

regulation of CBD products.
Standardize manufacturing and
labeling to quantify THC and CBD
content; this should include over-the-
counter topical CBD products.

 Require packaging to convey a

meaningful unit of consumption
(following alcohol ABV example), as
well as clear differentiation of
cannabis products from food.
  Regulate retail sales, marketing, and
promotion through national
guidelines paired with local control.

 Apply taxes in ways that moderate

use and fund appropriate law
enforcement, education, and
research.

 Bolster comprehensive cannabis

education in existing training on
substance use and abuse.
Education, clinicians  Create knowledge and automated
warnings around drug-drug
interactions.

 Standardize the way cannabis use is

considered in medical decision-
making, including transplantation
eligibility, to destigmatize use but also
to recognize health consequences;
apply fair and equitable testing
through algorithms.

Education, public  Educate the public about different

cannabis products, the various active
substances they may contain, and the
known health consequences of
smoking and vaping.

 Expand information sources about

impairment, abuse, and its
consequences (eg, cannabis use
disorder, hyperemesis syndrome).

 Dispel myths about cannabis,

particularly concerning the lack of risk
and overly exuberant claims of health
benefits.

Research  Support basic and clinical research

into the purported and health
benefits of cannabis products,
including cardiovascular health.

 Support basic and clinical research

into the potential short- and long-
term health consequences of
cannabis products, including vascular
disease and myocardial injury.

 Construct a standardized dose similar

to that for alcohol (the standard
drink), tobacco (a cigarette), or
opioids (morphine milligram
equivalents) for researchers to use in
analyzing use and for users to
understand their consumption.

 Establish standards for measuring

cannabis intoxication and
impairment, including ED and
 roadside testing.

 Understand the epidemiology and

trends in cannabis use, particularly
among youth and higher-risk
populations.

 Understand cannabis use disorder

and its effect on health and
healthcare use.

Senate Bill No. 230

MEDICAL CANNABIS COMPASSIONATE ACCESS ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES
Filed on July 7, 2022 by Padilla, Robinhood C.
AN ACT GRANTING ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS AS A COMPASSIONATE ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF MEDICAL
TREATMENT, EXPANDING RESEARCH INTO ITS MEDICINAL PROPERTIES, ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ACTS AND
PRESCRIBING PENALTIES THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Section 3. Definition of Terms. -As used in this Act:
Closed Locked Facility: functioning security devices that permit access only to authorized personnel of the
Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center cultivation site and dispensary
Debilitating medical condition shall be limited to the following: (1) Cancer; Glaucoma; Multiplesclerosis;
Damage to the nervous system of the spinal cord, with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity;
Epilepsy; Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immune deficiency syndrome
(AIDS); Rheumatoid arthritis or similar chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorders; Diseases requiring admission
into hospice care; Severe nausea of any cause; Sleep disorders including insomnia and sleep apnea; Mood
disorders including severe anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder,
social anxiety disorder; Recurring migraine headaches; and Any other debilitating medical condition that is
subsequently identified by the Department of Health through the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee
established under this Act;
Medical Cannabis to cannabis products such as capsules and oil in their pharmaceutical formulation which shall
have detailed and accurate information regarding the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and
cannabidiol (CBD) certified by the PDEA licensed and DOH registered physician to qualified patients. This shall not
include cannabis in its raw form;
Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center(MCCC) refers to a center or unit established by the DOH in select public
tertiary hospitals authorized to acquire, possess, deliver, transfer, transport, cause the cultivation, manufacture,
store, sell, supply, and dispense medical cannabis
Medical use refers to the use of medical cannabis to treat or alleviate a qualified patient's debilitating medical
condition or symptoms
S2License: to a license issued by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to a PRC-registered physician to
prescribe Medical Cannabis;
Written Certification refers to a document dated and signed by a PRCregistered physician possessing an 52
License certifying that the qualifying patient has any of the debilitating medical conditions under Section 3
Section 4. Use of Medical Cannabis. — The use of medical cannabis is hereby permitted, as herein provided for in
this Act, to treat or alleviate a qualified patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms,
Section 5. Roie of Agencies
Department of Health (DOH) - (1) The DOH shall be the principal regulatory agency in the access and use of
medical cannabis. It shall establish MCCCs, in public tertiary hospitals.
The DOH shall establish a Prescription Monitoring System and maintain an electronic database of registered
medical cannabis patients, their physicians, and other qualified entities for monitoring and regulation purposes.
The Secretary of the DOH, herein referred to as the Secretary, shall take the lead in the formulation of rules and
regulations to implement this Act.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - The FDA shall be the regulatory agency tasked to undertake testing of any
medical cannabis product to determine its potency, consistency, safety and effectivity, as well as compliance with
packaging and labelling safety requirements. It shall ensure that all medical cannabis products are organic,
pesticide free, gluten-free, and tested prior to distribution, dispensation, and sale.
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) - The DDB and PDEA shall
monitor and regulate the cultivation, manufacture, storage, distribution, prescription, dispensation and sale of
medical cannabis by the MCCCs. It shall establish and maintain an information system especially to track cannabis
growth from seed to sale for monitoring and regulation purposes.
Section 9. Form of the Written Certification. - For this purpose, the DOH shall develop a standard form of
written certification which shall be made available to certifying physicians. The written certification shall include
the following details: (a) name, date of birth, and address of the qualified patient; (b) a statement that the
qualified patient has any of the debilitating medical condition provided in Section 3 (d) and that the qualified
patient is under the certifying physician's care for the debilitating medical condition; (c) recommended form
and dosage of medical cannabis; (d) issue and expiry date of the certification; and (e) name, address, telephone
number, handwritten signature.
Section 10. Qualified Patient - A qualified patient refers to a person who has been diagnosed by a certifying
physician as having a debilitating medical condition as defined in Section 3 (d) and may receive therapeutic or
palliative benefits from the use of medical cannabis. below eighteen (18) years of age or above 18 but is
incapable or incapacitated to fully give his consent, the certifying physician is mandated to explain to the
patient as well as to the custodial parent or legal guardian of the qualified patient the potential risks and
benefits of using medical cannabis. The custodial parent or legal guardian shall signify, in writing, their consent
to allow the qualified patient's medical use of cannabis.
Section 12. Identification Cards. - The DOFI shall issue registry Identification (ID) cards to qualified medical
cannabis patients which shall also contain a QR Code unique to every qualified patient. ID must be kept in
possession of the cardholder, at all times, while engaging in the use of medical cannabis. Registry ID card shall
be valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance or an earlier date as stated in the written certification
Section 15. Access to Medical Cannabis. — Medical cannabis shall only be accessed through Medical Cannabis
Compassionate Centers located at public tertiary hospitals.
REFERENCES

Webb, C. & Webb, S. (2014). “Therapeutic Benefits of Cannabis: A Patient Survey”.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998228/

Isles, C. (2021). 7 Potential Health Benefits of Cannabis. https://www.jwu.edu/news/2021/09/7-potential-health-benefits-of-

cannabis.html

Morrow, A. (2022). “Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana” https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-

medical-marijuana-1132484

Bridgeman, M. & Abazia, D. (2017). “Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications for the Acute Care
Setting”. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312634/

(Circulation, 2020). “Medical Marijuana, Recreational Cannabis, and Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement
From the American Heart Association”. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000883

Volkow, N., Baler, R., Compton, W., Weiss, S. (2014). “Adverse Health Effects of Marijuana Use”.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4827335/

(2022). “Important Information and Warnings About Using Medical Cannabis”.

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/cannabis/docs/patients/patientinfosheet.pdf

http://legacy.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=19&q=SBN-230