Padilla bats anew for stiff regulation of medical cannabis

Senator Robinhood Padilla on Saturday, 20 December, pushed anew for the stiff regulation of medical cannabis.

In July, Padilla filed Senate Bill No. 15, or the Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines, to legalize and regulate the use of medical cannabis for patients with debilitating conditions.

The measure aims to provide safe, controlled, and compassionate access to medical cannabis as a treatment option, expanding research into its medical properties and ensuring strict regulations to prevent abuse for recreational use.

"As a public servant, I believe it is our duty to provide Filipino patients with safe and proper access to medical cannabis, especially if it can help their condition," Padilla said in Filipino.

The senator explained that under the proposed act, every step of cultivation to prescription will be strictly regulated by the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority under the Department of Health to ensure its safe and controlled use.

"To me, this is not just about medicine. It is about giving hope and a better quality of life to our countrymen who have been suffering from chronic diseases," he said.

"We want to ensure that they have choices and protections and that they are not left behind in an outdated system that can no longer meet their needs," he added.

Furthermore, the bill would also penalize individuals, whether patients, doctors, or industry players, who commit any of the prohibited acts and violate any provision of the measure.