The House of Representatives has reportedly approved House Bill No. 10439 or the proposed “Access to Medical Cannabis Act,” legalizing medical marijuana for treating various illnesses. The bill passed with a 177-9-9 vote.
Photos: Canva / House of Representatives of the Philippines
Medical cannabis can only be used with a doctor’s prescription and under strict supervision. A new Medical Cannabis Office will be set up to manage the process. Doctors who want to prescribe medical cannabis must first be approved by the drug regulatory agency. This ensures that doctors with a history of drug-related issues are not allowed to prescribe medical marijuana.
The bill specifies which medical conditions qualify for cannabis treatment. These are:
- cancer
- glaucoma
- multiple sclerosis
- damage to the nervous system of the spinal cord, with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity
- epilepsy
- positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- post-traumatic stress disorder
- rheumatoid arthritis “or similar chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorders”
- diseases that require hospice care admission;
- other conditions that may be identified by the Department of Health through the Medical Cannabis Office
Other forms of marijuana remain illegal, as clarified by House Committee on Dangerous Drugs chairperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte).
Rep. Barbers, the bill’s author, celebrated its passage, which “aims to benefit Filipino patients suffering from debilitating illnesses.” He warned of penalties for those who violate the law’s strict rules on medical cannabis access.
Once a bill passes both the House and Senate, it goes to the President. The President can either sign it into law, veto it, or do nothing. If no action is taken by the President within 30 days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes a law.
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