QUEZON CITY – Joey Ayala, Filipino singer-songwriter and medical cannabis advocate, on Monday said that “Marijuana destroys the credibility of the law.”
Ayala was referring to Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law of 2002”, which prohibits the illegal use, sale and distribution of illegal substances such as Marijuana.
During the Media Health Forum at Gerry’s Grill in Eton Centris, Quezon Avenue, EDSA, Quezon City on Monday (Nov. 6), Ayala said that the medical cannabis is prescribed as treatment to joint pains.
Ayala added that the last time he took Marijuana as a muscle relaxant could have even caused his untimely death. He hoped that there was a muscle relaxant such as medical cannabis.
“It’s almost obligatory na maging familiar ka dyan (Marijuana). It’s adventurous, mas exciting,” he said.
In the 1970’s Ayala was caught by his mother using Marijuana which his mother termed as “pagkain ng baboy (hogwash)” and his father was then into agriculture who showed him Marijuana and advised him to use marijuana only in their home.
He admitted using Marijuana out of curiosity but secretly. The damages caused by the opponents of marijuana discredited the law. It’s freedom to make up your mind whether to use it or not.
“Masarap ang tama ng Marijuana. Para sa akin, mas masarap ang tama kaysa sa alak. I don’t consider it as an abuse. May tendency sya kasi sedative, where you become passive,” Ayala said.
He tried to use marijuana for two weeks but he stopped it for good. He learned from his father that it was not a “big deal” to use Marijuana.
“It’s a relaxant pero kung gagamitin ko sya sa pagperform, hindi maganda. You will never learn, if it’s demonized. It’s a great relaxant. It destroys the credibility of the law,” Ayala said.
“Kung ayaw ng Marijuana, ituro ang introspection, meditation o yoga kasi tini-trigger nito ang Cannabinoid. Marijuana is ‘cool” and ‘hip’. I wish tanggallin nyo na ang paranoia sa Marijuana. Para sa akin, ideally, idecriminalize na yan (Marijuana),” he added.
For his part, Dr. Richard Nixon Gomez, scientist/inventor and general manager of Bauertek Corporation, said “paunti nang pauntin ang sumasalungat at parami nang parami ang sumasang-ayon sa medical cannabis at in due time malelegalize na ang medical cannabis.”
“We have herbal food, cosmetic pampaganda. Pharmaceuticals. Natural na kayang talunin ang maraming pharmaceutical products at ito ay tinanggap na sa maraming bansa. Yung may Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, pag gumamit sila ng herb na ito tanggal ang pain nila,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Marijuana is wild at tumutubo lamang dahil may buto siya. Walang nababaliw sa gumagamit ng Marijuana. It’s not for addiction. It’s for medicinal use. Ang halaman ay tumutubo sa kanilang lugar,” he said.
“Noong unang panahon pa pero lalong-lalo na ng nagkaroon ng Covid-19 pandemic ay nagkaroon ng anxiety at depression hindi lamang sa Pilipinas pero sa buong mundo na kung saan marami ang nagpapakamatay sa Singapore at Hong Kong dahil sa depression,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Marami tayong combinations na gagawin sa Cannabis depende sa karamdaman at may kapsula, oil, spray and with so many possible combinations para matagunan ang pangangailangan,” he added.
“Ang buong halaman ng Marijuana ay maraming sangkap ng Cannabinoid at ang pinakamaraming sangkap ay ang bulaklak ng Marijuana. Natural feeds mula sa dahon ng Marijuana ang ibibigay sa poulty o piggery,” Dr. Gomez said.
The Bauertek Corporation executive said that the new facility will not only for manufacturing but it will also produce agricultural feeds from the leaves of Marijuana.
The new facility is 13 times bigger the size of the Bauertek facility in Guiguinto, Bulacan. It will have a 12-hectare plantation wherein every 3 months will be for cultivation. The 12-hectare trees will be harvested every 3 or 4 months. It is called “Hem wood”.
Dr. Gomez noted that November 18 is the groundbreaking of the new Bauertek facility where members of the media are invited, together with the government officials.
He said that based on the proposed Senate Bill, the Cannabis will be for medical use only. Phase 2 will be for food supplements and Phase 3 will be for cosmetics.
“Ang Bauertek ngayon ay may kakayahan na magtesting at magresearch ng Cannabis, which is far greater than any other pharmaceutical company in the Philippines,” Dr. Gomez said.
He added that the Congress Committee on Dangerous Drugs is now in the process of sending invitations to concerned authorities for the purpose of consolidating all the proposed bills on medicalization and legalization of Cannabis.
On the other hand, Dr. Gem Marq Mutia, adult medicine specialist and founder of Philippine Society of Cannabinoid Medicine, said that medical Marijuana whether traditional or conventional, has been used for the longest time and there has been nothing more traditional than Marijuana.
“As of now, indicated po, ibig sabihin, nagawan na po ng clinical study para sa multiple Schlerosis, Epilepsy. Talagang gamot po ang Marijuana,” he said.
Dr. Mutia noted that the importation of purified Cannabinoid is allowed for intractable Epilepsy.
“Unfortunately, napakahigpit ng ating batas, kailangan ng special compassionate permit. Ang kaisa-isang nabigyan ng special compassionate permit ay hindi pa rin nakapag-avail ng Cannabis dahil marami pang additional requirements,” he said.
“Endocannabinoid (cannabinoid within) system where a built-in system is in the human body to fight naturally the bad elements. Stress response is also important to overdrive the body,” he added.
Dr. Mutia stressed that “Anxiety means may kinakatakutan ka pero di mo alam ang kinakatakutan mo. Fear ay alam mo ang kinakatakutan mo at ang Depression is the lack of willingness to live anymore.”
He said that “Broncho dilator at anti-inflammatory ang mga sangkap ng Cannabinoid. Napakaversatile na gamot ang Marijuana.”
“Ang lahat ng tao at hayop ay may taglay na natural “Cannabinoid”. Kailangan pa ng maraming pag-aaral tungkol sa ‘Endocannabinoid’,” Dr. Mutia said.
“Ang kagandahan ng Cannabis ay nakakatulog at nakakabuti para sa mga maysakit. Lulunasan nito ang anxiety, depression para makarelax at makatulog ang mga maykaramdaman,” he added. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
