LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL USE IN THE PHILIPPINES

Background
House Bill 6517 or the Act Providing Compassionate and Right of Access to Medical Cannabis and
Expanding Research into its Medicinal Properties and for Other Purposes.

HB 6517 defines this as any disease causing wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea,
seizures including those characteristic of epilepsy, or severe and persistent muscle spasms.

Under HB 6517, a patient would be qualified to use medical marijuana if he or she is diagnosed as
having a debilitating disease and who, upon the doctor's evaluation, should receive "therapeutic or
palliative benefits" from the medical use of cannabis.

Negative Side Arguments

 IF IT IS LEGAL, IS IT SAFE?
According to healthline, marijuana smoke is made up of toxic chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen
cyanide, which is pretty much the same as your everyday cigarette. This can irritate your airways
system and the lungs. You’re basically exposing yourself to the same risk when you’re smoking a
cigarette.

The Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive agent in marijuana can enter your
lungs, your bloodstream, and then into your brain. Its effects can vary depending on who you are, the
potency of the cannabis, and how you take it (smoke it or eat it).

While it can lead to relaxation and heightened senses, it can also lead to increased heart rate (which
increases your risk of heart attack if you have a cardiovascular condition), anxiety, paranoia, and
sometimes hallucination.

The THC alters the way you process information, so your judgment may be impaired.

There is a possibility of becoming addicted to marijuana after long-term use. When you stop using it,
you may experience withdrawal symptoms.

Marijuana affects your balance and coordination. Your reflexes may be slower than usual, affecting
things such as your ability to drive.

THC might harm your immune system, making you more vulnerable to illnesses.

No matter how you use marijuana, the drug can cause immediate and long-term effects, such as changes
in perception and increased heart rate. Over time, smoking marijuana may cause chronic cough and
other health issues.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Manila provided other arguments against the legalization. First,
while there is insufficient evidence on marijuana’s ability to treat diseases, its harmful effects have been
documented. Marijuana use may come with short-term effects such as drowsiness and anxiety. In the
long run, it may increase the risk of respiratory diseases, memory loss, and dependence. The current
evidence is still insufficient to fulfill drug regulatory approval requirements.

Some organizations are especially concerned about users under the age of 25, for up until that time the
brain is still developing. Professor Christina Grant of McMaster University states, “We know that 1 in 7
teenagers who start using cannabis will develop cannabis-use disorder”—a condition that destructively
impacts the teenager’s school, work, and family relationships.

 IT CAN BE USED FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN THE TREATMENT OF

AILMENTS/ABUSE/LOOPHOLES IN THE LAW
As stated by President Duterte, those involved in the narcotics trade can use the measure as an excuse
to further expand their business.

Mr. Duterte last Friday said he was against the legalization of marijuana in the country, warning that its
use for medical purposes might be used as an excuse to cultivate it for other purposes.

People tend to make its use as medicinal. Several medical groups oppose the proposal, citing its
potential danger to the lives of Filipino citizens. Additionally, Senator Grace Poe said that marijuana is
prone to abuse.

One survey study in the US showed that “residents of states with medical marijuana laws had higher
odds of marijuana use and marijuana abuse/dependence.”

Prof. Miguel Enrico Ayson, a political science professor from UP Los Baños, expressed his concern over
its implementation. “The event that marijuana will be diverted and used for recreational purposes is
plausible due to the persistent weaknesses in policy implementation in the Philippines,” he said. He also
saw that the policy may be used by politicians to increase their political leverage. In the case of the
Philippines, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if this were to happen.

The American Psychiatric Association Lead researcher Dr. Nora Volkow stressed “that long-term
marijuana use can lead to addiction. … The regular use of marijuana during adolescence is of particular
concern, since use by this age group is associated with an increased likelihood of deleterious
consequences.” The authors articulated that in 77 studies and literature reviews, negative health
consequences were associated with marijuana usage.

This damaging condition Dr. Grant calls “cannabis-use disorder” can lead to an addiction in which the
individual user finds it frequently interfering with aspects of day-to-day life. Studies suggest that about
17 percent of those who start using the drug in their teens will become dependent.

Perhaps the “medical” aspect is more excuse than reality for the majority of users who claim a medical
reason for using cannabis.

Most empirical research shows that marijuana is a “gateway” drug to more serious drugs. Whether it is
legal or not, organized crime will benefit from increasing marijuana use.
Dr. Robert DuPont, first director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, makes the following
observation in The New York Times: “People who use marijuana also consume more, not less, legal and
illegal drugs than do people who do not use marijuana.”

In fact, in some states in the U.S., legalization has resulted in a 400 percent increase in marijuana-
related visits to emergency rooms, as reported by Dr. G. S. Wang of the pediatrics department of the
University of Colorado.

An investigation published on December 1, 2017 entitled “Personal grow-ops emerge as targets for
organized crime” explains how organized crime is very quickly becoming a force in the medical
marijuana business and is using loopholes in the law to create massive “personal grow-ops” using
medical marijuana as a cover.

The intention may be good, for medical use, but it may lead to [the] proliferation of marijuana for
recreational use. That would defeat the purpose.

A growing myth among the public is that marijuana is not an addictive substance. Data clearly show that
about 10% of those who use cannabis become addicted; this number is higher among adolescents.

Users who seek treatment for marijuana addiction average 10 years of daily use. A withdrawal
syndrome has been described, consisting of anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression, and changes in
appetite and affects as many as 44% of frequent users contributing to the addictive potential of the
drug. This addictive potential may be less than that of opiates; but the belief, especially among
adolescents, that the drug is not addictive is misguided.

 LACK OF RESEARCH
The lack of research and clinical trials to determine dosages: Much research still needs to be done to
identify which of marijuana’s ingredients should be prescribed, and the correct dosage of that
ingredient, based on the patient’s weight, age, sex and severity of condition.

The lack of research on marijuana’s interaction with other medications: Before medicines can be
prescribed safely, doctors need access to information about potential drug interactions. Not knowing
this could have serious—even fatal—consequences.

The American Medical Association, which—on medical grounds—has opposed the legalization of pot,
stresses the need to conduct thorough research into the pharmacology of cannabis before governments
begin supporting cannabis as a pharmaceutical.

Associations of physicians resist the implementation of so-called “medical marijuana,” as there is

currently a lack of solid research to determine which of the non-hallucinogenic compounds in the
marijuana plant are effective for clinical application.

 CANNABIS USE AND LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC ATTAINMENT

Research points to the reality that one who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced
intellectual level most of the time. One review of 48 studies demonstrated that marijuana is associated
with reduced educational achievement and reduced probability of graduating.

There is also a clear link between cannabis use and low socio-economic attainment. Heavy use is linked
to a higher probability of lower income, greater welfare dependence, underemployment, criminal
behavior and lower life satisfaction.

BUHAY Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said that Marijuana is destructive,” he said. Atienza warned that
legalizing medical marijuana will lead to the expansion of marijuana’s cultivation. “What will happen to
the Philippines? We don’t have enough rice as it is.

If it becomes legal, our farmers might end up cultivating marijuana instead of planting rice
Sources:
Medical Marijuana: Here Are The Things That You Should Know
Marc Adrian - https://www.imoney.ph/articles/medical-marijuana-philippines/

The Effects of Marijuana on Your Body

Healthline - https://www.healthline.com/health/addiction/marijuana/effects-on-body#8

Is The Philippines Ready To Legalize Marijuana?

Cesar Ilao III - https://www.flipscience.ph/health/philippines-legalize-marijuana/

Marijuana: What they aren’t telling you

Stuart Wachowicz - https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/booklets/marijuana-what-they-arent-telling-
you/content