<A special report by foreign correspondent {{{G3}}} on Medical Cannabis in the Philippines>
Medical cannabis has slowly but surely gained ground in the Philippines, thanks to the initiative of the underground movement influencing professionals, mainstream media, and more recently, government officials. The statement is now unanimous: Cannabis, Marijuana is safe, affordable, and more importantly, effective medicine, and/or treatment, and health aid, for many various conditions and diseases.
With the bill already approved in the third and final reading in Congress early this year after almost seven years, and its counterpart bill already in the Senate awaiting final signature by the country’s president Bongbong Marcos, it has come a long way after years of stigma and a largely misinformed public. An overwhelming majority of people now know it is worthy, effective medicine that many people can afford and get behind.
It was and still is a labor of love to provide safe, affordable, and accessible medicine – something you can plant in your garden – to the Filipino people. Here’s hoping we won’t wait for another ten more years or so before another major milestone in the Phil. Cannabis Movement. It’s HIGH time for that country to have it. We here from abroad are hoping and praying it finally does ASAP.
A Short History Of Medical Cannabis Legalization In The Philippines
The history and years of hard work and educating that went behind the scenes for this bold and huge step for medical history in the Philippines ain’t no small feat. Remember that before mainstream media, social media, and the government finally backed it, many of those who really know were from the underground and counterculture movements. We have to recognize this and remember where the first efforts came from.
We can consider the underground and counterculture movements in the Philippines as the grass roots start of the Medical Cannabis Movement. One of the leaders of the early movement is drug reform advocate and Medical Cannabis Party member Kimmi Del Prado, who became the Philippines’ first representative of a USA based movement “Moms For Medical Marijuana”.
As early as 2014, she and her allies spearheaded the start of several local movements including Philippines Cannabis Compassion Society and The Medical Cannabis Party among many others. This was also the year that child patient Charlotte Figi’s story also spearheaded the spreading of international awareness of medical marijuana via the Charlotte’s Web strain to counter her debilitating condition known as Dravet’s Syndrome.
Former Vice President Leni Robredo was also a key movement contributor, having been one of the co-authors of the bill that aimed to provide safe, affordable access to marijuana medicine when she was still a congresswoman. This made the Philippines one of the leaders in the Asian Cannabis Movement, something that unfortunately the Pinoys lost when Thailand legalized both medical and recreational marijuana a few years ago, even pardoning cannabis prisoners and erasing their cases, and even returning the exact amount of cannabis per prisoner that was originally confiscated from them.
Hard work and dedication made it possible for House Bill 447 to appear in the government’s consciousness. It later became HB 180, the “Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act” in the 17th congress with its principal author, Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano.
Doctors, patients, scientists, resource persons, researchers, and many freedom fighters rallied behind all public forums and government hearings to educate and inform the Philippino public about the truths about marijuana as medicine, and not as the misinformed, demonized version of it being peddled by the clueless and corrupt Department Of Health and many outdated and ill-informed “doctors” and professionals who thought otherwise.
House Bill 180: Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act and House Bill 6783, “An Act Removing Cannabis And Any Form Or Derivative Thereof From The List Of Dangerous Drugs And Substances Under Existing Laws” were two of the propositions that circulated in the public consciousness and government halls for years, slowly inching to claim it’s rightful place in Philippine law.
Former president Duterte, once a supporter of the movement during his campaign, suddenly withdrew his support. This resulted in the Senate dropping the supposed hearings to discuss and hopefully pass the bills. It would take a few more years for the movement to finally push through again, this time when Marcos Jr. stepped in as new president, complete with a show of support for the movement.
Despite existing sublaws that supposedly allowed “compassionate use”, the actual system did not work and failed to really give any true access to many patients who clamored for the medicine. Hence, the movement in Congress to create actual working bills to give true, accessible and affordable providence to patients.
House Bill 10439
In 2023, and then this year, a major milestone again hurdled years of misinformed thinking and clear enlightenment including those of Congress and the Senate. A landslide win of 177 Congressmen voted in favor of House Bill No. 10439 or the proposed Access to Medical Cannabis Act for the third and final reading. It consolidated most of the previous bills with additions and edits from the original proposals.
The latest development was spearheaded in the Senate by showbiz superstar and now Senate head Robin Padilla, including a privilege speech presenting the case of Senate Bill 2573, The Proposed Medicalization Of Cannabis. 12 Senators also showed their support with the hopes of speeding up the bill to make up for lost time. Only a few more deliberations and maybe minor edits, and the final version is already due for a signature from the President.
Medical Marijuana has gained through so many birthing pains and continue to slowly succeed for the countless patients from infants to senior citizens who need it. Let’s hope Philippinos get what they rightfully deserve by 2025. It’s HIGH time.
Towards Harmonious Civilization Zine 
Leave a comment