House approved medical marijuana bill in the Philippines

Manila, Philippines - The House Committee on Health approved a controversial bill seeking to legalize and regulate the use of marijuana on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.

House Bill NO. 180 or the proposed Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act will go to plenary for debates.

Cannabis or popularly known as Marijuana is a psychoactive drug intended for medical or recreational use.The bill seeks to legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis, which has been proven to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to threat chronic disease.

It proposes the establishment of Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers (MCCC) licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) and based in DOH-retained hospitals allowing to sell, supply and dispense cannabis to qualified patients through a pharmacist. 

The bill was approved after the extensive consultations with patients, health care practitioners, medical experts and advocacy groups. The use of cannabis was only allowed for medical purposes only.