Robin Padilla: Will legalizing medical cannabis entice foreigners to retire in PH?

Should the government legalize the use of medical cannabis to encourage foreigners to retire in the Philippines?

This was the question posed by Senator Robin Padilla to the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) at the Senate finance committee hearing on Tuesday.

“Kung gusto natin dito na mag-retire lalo na yung mga European, kasi bukas sa kanila yan, ang medícal cannabis, sa kanila that is natural, walang problema ‘yon….Paano po kaya ‘yon sa tingin n’yo makakatulong ang legalization ng cannabis sa retirement industry?” Padilla asked.

He cited the foreigners from the Netherlands and Australia—countries which already allow the use of medical cannabis—who wanted to retire in the Philippines.

Director Philip John Moreno from the PRA said it is practical for the agency to support the legalization of medical cannabis but there should be proper controls for its use.

“It will be for our management to decide, but it appears that it’s practical for PRA to support. But, of course, under certain conditions and there must be controls that should be put in place,” Moreno said.

He also explained that the PRA is only a part of the group that will discuss this issue and this needs the participation of the Department of Health.

“IF PRA will be targeting the senior, senior categories where there's much pain in their medical condition, maybe your suggested medical treatment or medical therapy will be useful for them. Practically po, possible, of course, to support the needed medical services to cater to this special segment that needs this kind of therapy,” he said.

Padilla has led the Senate hearings of his bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana in the country.

The senator filed Senate Bill No. 230 which considers cannabis as a “compassionate alternative means of medical treatment.”

Under the bill, medical cannabis, which refers to products such as capsules and oil, and not raw cannabis, may be used on a “qualified patient who has been diagnosed by a certifying physician as having a debilitating medical condition.”

It also defines “debilitating medical condition” to include cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous system of the spinal cord, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis or similar chronic autoimmune deficiency, diseases requiring hospice care, severe nausea, sleep disorders, mood disorders, recurring migraine headaches, and other debilitating medical conditions identified by the Department of Health through the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee.—LDF, GMA Integrated News