QUEZON CITY – Advocates of medical cannabis on Monday September 18 urged the lawmakers both from the House of Representatives and the Senate to take action on the proposed measures seeking for the medicalization and legalization of Cannabis.
During the Media Health Forum in Gerry’s Grill in Eton Centris, EDSA, Quezon City with moderators broadcasters Edwin Eusebio and Rolando “Lakay” Gonzalo, Dr. Gem Marq Mutia, Adult Medicine Specialist and Founder and President of Philippine Society of Cannabinoid Medicine (PSCM) said “Wala nang mas tradisyonal pa kaysa sa Cannabis na 6,000 years old nang ginagamit bilang gamot sa China.”
“Sa 2023 World Drug Report, pharmaceutical grade o clinically-proven na napag-aralan na po yan (Cannabis). United Nations (UN) po ang nagsabi na gamot ang Cannabis. Gamot sa epilepsy at scheloris, ayon sa UN,” Dr. Mutia added.
In 2016, Mutia said, “Kasama ang Pilipinas sa UN na nagsabing ‘we reiterate our strong commitment to improving access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes. We recognize drug dependence as a complex, multifactoral health disorder characterized by a chronic and relapsing nature that can be prevented and treated.”
“Dapat health approach at hindi na criminal approach. UN nagpropromote ng decriminalization at hindi criminalization ng Cannabis,” he added.
Dr. Mutia cited the DDB (Dangerous Drugs Board) Board Resolution No. 2 Series of 2020 placing drug products containing Cannabinoid (CBD) with no more than 0.1 percent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cannabis-related bills.
There is one proposed bill in the Senate on medicalization — Senate Bill (SB) 230, and nine proposed bills in the House of Representatives on decriminalization — House Bill (HB) 243, 7616; on legalization — HB 4208; on Medicalization — HB 241, 2007, 4638, 4866, 7817; and Decriminalization — HB 4208.
Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla authored the Medicalization of Cannabis Act of 2022 or the use of Cannabis for medical purposes.
Under the proposed Senate Bill, with powers and functions of the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority (PMCA) to establish and maintain and information system and to issue licenses to duly-registered private corporations and development on medical cannabis.
Among others, the proposed Senate Bill provides “To import for resale in the Philippines for authorized users of Medical Cannabis products from foreign manufacturers or companies. Qualified patients are those who are certified by medical doctors. Doctors should have an ‘S2’ certification.”
It also provides “With designated treatment facilities. Research and development, within 120 days from the approval.”
In Decriminalization, House Bill 6783 removes criminal penalties for the possession of any drug for personal use. It is a proposed measure in the House of Representatives seeking to decriminalize Cannabis.
Dr. Mutia noted that the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) of the United States says that addiction should be treated, not penalized.
He added that the American Society of Medical Association (ASAM) says that decriminalization does not mean commercialization or legalization.
“DOH (Department of Health) at medical community ang nag-popromote ng criminalization ng Cannabis at sila pa ang nagmamalupit sa cannabis users. May ‘whirlwind’ of evidence na po ngayon na gamot ang Cannabis,” Dr. Mutia said.
“Mawawalan ng pasyente ang mga medical practitioner na dinedeny na gamot ang Cannabis. Mawawalan ng botante ang mga mambabatas na dinedeny na gamot ang Cannabis,” he added.
For his part, Dr. Peter Quilala, Physician and Pharmacist and Board Member of PSCM, said that he started to be an advocate of Cannabis when he started teaching medicine.
“Tinuturo na sa medisina at pharmacy at nagkaroon ng masidhing adbokasiya hindi lamang sa mga pasyente pati na rin sa mga doktor na natatakot magreseta. Lumalawak din ang adbokasiya dahil kina Dr. Mutia at Dr. Cunanan,” Dr. Quilala said.
“Hindi nakabinbin ang mga panukalang batas. Gumagalaw na sila ngayon at idinadarasal naming na matuloy na siya na maging batas. Kailangan po naming mag-ingay at palawakin na ang medical marijuana ay mawala sa pagkatakot dahil natatakot daw sila sa complication ng medical marijuana,” he added.
“Medical information para malaman kung bakit nagkakaroon ng side effects. Yung nag-eexperiment at gusto lang matikman, ay nagkakaroon ng side effects. Yung sumusubok ay di nabibigyan ng tamang impormasyon,” Dr. Quilala said.
“Pharmaceutical grade ang isa sa mga agam-agam sa Senado. Parang hindi rin nila naiitindihan kung ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ng pharmaceutical grade. Wala pong operational guide para malaman ang pharmaceutical grade,” he added.
“Kung gagamitin po natin ang isang halaman at gagamitin natin bilang gamot, magkakaroon ng side effect kung tatanggalin ang parte ng halaman na may medical use. Nasa Technical Working Group o isang level pa lang siya. Mayroon naman hong mga proseso na kahit halaman sya, pwede syang gawing gamot,” Dr. Quilala said.
“Malaya po ang mga doktor na maging kasapi sila sa ganitong organisasyon (PSCM) para malaman nila kung ano talaga ang patutunguhan ng medical marijuana. ‘S2 license’ ay ginagamit pangreseta sa mga pasyente na nangangailangan ng gamot,” he added.
For her part, Dr. Donnabelle Cunanan, Dentist and President of Cannahopefuls, Inc. and Pioneer of Medical Cannabinoid, said that in an Intractable epilepsy, there are 60 to 80 seizures per day. ER (Emergency Room) has been a ‘field trip’ in the more than five years’ confinement of her child.
“Sentro ng usapin na ito ay aming mga pasyente. Malaki ang aming ginagampanan simula noong 2013. Politics can come and go in different administrations. Hindi po kami dumating sa time na magsource from illegal.
Talagang may bonafide relationship ang patient at doctor,” Dr. Cunanan said.
Cecille and Gerlie and many others have been with Dr. Cunanan for 10 years in advocating for Medical Cannabis. They have been advocates of Medical Cannabis since 2013 and it will be their 10 years of advocacy in November 2023.
“Si Julia ay isa sa mga pinagkakaitan ng pagkakataon para magamot ng Cannabis. With anti-seizure medication, pero inaatake pa rin sya. Nagrefuse na ang ina nya sa limang gamot. More than 20 seizures, weak or strong, na bigla-biglang umaatake. More than one minute, minsan five minutes, ang pinakamatagal ay more than one hour. May ‘trembling’ pa ring nangyayari sa body ni Julia kahit na walang seizure. Wala ng gamot na tumatagal sa kanyang seizures,” Julia’s mother said.
“Sana ay magkaroon kami ng immediate access sa Medical Cannabis,” Julia’s mother added.
In their 10 years as members of Cannahopefuls, they said, many patients have died without being treated with the use of medical cannabis and they hoped no more patient will die.
“Ngayon po ah panahon na para lawakan na ang ating pag-iisisp na ito (Cannabis) ay nakakatulong sa maysakit lalo na ngayon sa panahon ni PBBM (President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr.),” Dr. Cunanan said.
“Sa mga mambabatas, sana po ay suportahan nyo na po ang mga gumugulong na batas patungkol sa Medical Cannabis,” she added.
“80 to 100 patients have already died under our advocacy group. The more seizures they have, the more it becomes more debilitating for them,” Dr. Cunanan said.
“May kakayahan ang Bauertek (Corporation) na magproduce, magprocess at magmanufacture ng Medical Cannabis at hindi na kailangan pang mag-import. Gamot po ang Cannabis. Dapat pong palayain ang halaman para sa mga pasyente,” she added. – By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
