Philippine Lawmakers Vote to Legalize Medical Cannabis
We know the Philippines primarily as the country where a ruthless War on Drugs was previously waged under the leadership of ex-President Duterte, but times are changing. This summer, the Philippine House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to legalize medical cannabis. They are not quite there yet, as the Asian country’s Senate is still due to vote on the proposal.
The Philippine House of Representatives has shown overwhelming support of a bill that seeks to legalize medical cannabis. House Bill 10439 was initially presented in May 2024, and it got its third and final reading earlier in August when it was approved with 177 votes in favor, 9 against, and 9 abstentions. While this is a huge success, the Philippine’s bill for medical cannabis next needs to secure enough votes in the Senate, after which it can be signed into a law.Â
“The passage of the bill legalizing medical cannabis on the third and final reading in the House of Representatives is very good news,” said in a statement Robin Padella, President of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino party, and a long-term cannabis campaigner.Â
“I am hopeful that its counterpart bill in the Senate that I am advocating - the Cannabis Medicalization Act - will also be approved, for the final signature of the President,” he said.Â
Philippine Patients Do Not Have Easy Access to Medical Cannabis
Philippine patients can only access medical cannabis through a prescription from qualified physicians, under the current law. Growing your own weed is out of the question, and there are heavy penalties for everyone who might get caught with weed on their person.Â
The minimum prison sentence for cannabis-related offenses in the Philippines is six months, while the maximum is six years. Either that or paying a hefty fine of US $8,800 to $17,600.Â
If the medical cannabis bill passes in the Senate, it will activate a national Medical Cannabis Office (MCO), a body that will screen Philippine doctors and other medical personnel authorized to write prescriptions. House Speaker Ace Barbers also wants them to be trained on the therapeutic potentials of cannabis.Â
Recreational use of cannabis will probably remain prohibited in the Philippines for the foreseeable future. An illustration of how harsh the penalties can be is Dutch backpacker Tim Bouwens, who has been put in prison in the Philippines for 1 year for 0.6 grams of weed. The traveler was arrested at Manila airport after flying from Bangkok with a forgotten half-smoked joint in his possessions.Â
Also read on Soft Secrets:
-Â Brazilian Supreme Court Decriminalizes Cannabis
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Stephen Andrews
