The head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is open to the use of marijuana or cannabis whether for medicine or as a medicine.
‘My take is medicine is an innovation, we cannot guarantee na ito lang po tayo at darating sa future eh wala na, hanggang dito na lang,” said FDA Director General Dr. Samuel Zacate.
”My take on marijuana is that I am open, basically, Filipinos must have a wide range of therapeutic indication, drug of choice so ako po ay for the record, to the Food and Drug Administration, as the director general is very much open for the marijuana as long as this has been streamlined as long as di makakasama sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
According to Zacate, the legislators will decide on the bill whether to allow the use of marijuana for medical use.
The joint House Committees on Dangerous Drugs and Health approved the substitute bill to allow the use of cannabis or marijuana for medicine.
Also read:
FDA open to using marijuana as medicine
Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, head of the committee on dangerous drugs panel, said that marijuana will only be allowed to be used as medicine. Still, it will remain on the list as an illegal drug in accordance with the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act or Republic Act 9165.
“This [proposed] law only grants an exception to the enumeration of prohibited drugs under RA 9165 by limiting it for medical use. Cannabis in pharmaceutical form is allowed, provided that you have a prescription,” explained Barbers.
“Also, the law has limitations, as the accredited physician is only allowed to prescribe what is allowable for the illness,” he added.
Currently, the Department of Health allows the use of marijuana as medicine under a compassionate special permit.
Once the bill is approved, it will no longer be necessary to obtain a CSP to use marijuana as medicine if recommended by a doctor.
Visit our Facebook page for more news updates.