The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading the bill seeking to the legalization and regulation of the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

With voting 163 in favor, five against and three abstentions, the bill — principally authored by Isabela Representative Rodito Albano — will allow the use of marijuana in treating chronic or debilitating medical conditions and establish Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers (MCCC) which will be authorized to sell, supply and dispense cannabis to qualified patients or their caregivers through S3-licensed pharmacists.

Under the proposed law, the license of the MCCC will be issued by the Department of Health and will be based in department-retained hospitals, specialty hospitals and private tertiary hospitals.