DOH won't back marijuana cultivation, manufacture of cannabis products

The Department of Health on Tuesday expressed its opposition to the cultivation of marijuana or the manufacture of cannabis products days after a House committee passed the measure on its use for medicine.

In a statement, the DOH said it recognized efforts to legalize medical cannabis use and added that such steps "should be based on the best available scientific evidence, weighed for cost-effectiveness and public health impact." 

"Legislation should also consider the regulatory capacity of all government agencies that will be involved should there be approval," the DOH said.

"However, the DOH does not support either the cultivation of cannabis plants or the manufacture of the cannabis products," it added.

The DOH said the public should be reminded that "any use of marijuana at this point is still punishable by law, unless granted a compassionate special permit (CSP) signed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General that would allow its use and importation in the country." 

"We shall keep the public updated should there be developments in the use of medical cannabis," the DOH said.

The joint House committees on dangerous drugs and health on February 7 approved an unnumbered substitute bill allowing the use of cannabis or marijuana for medical use.

Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the dangerous drugs panel, said the measure only allows for the medical use of cannabis and as such it will still be listed as an illegal drug as provided in 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," Barbers said.

"Also, the law has limitations, as the accredited physician is only allowed to prescribe what is allowable for the illness," he added.

Barbers said that while the proposed bill creates a Medical Cannabis Office (MCO) under the Department of Health to grant accreditation to doctors and other licenses, the MCO would still have to clear it with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) before issuing these.

"There would still have to be coordination with the DDB to ensure that those securing licenses and permits are not involved in the illegal drug trade," Barbers said.

"Not all medical practitioners will be given accreditation, as they would need training, clearances, and comply with other requirements that won't be easy to secure," he added.

Likewise, the bill metes a heavy penalty on those found faking illness or prescriptions to secure cannabis: jail time of at least six months but not more than six years, and/or a fine of P500,000 to P1 million.

The Health department currently allows the medical use of cannabis under a compassionate special permit.

Once the proposed bill becomes a law, Barbers said the issuance of a CSP will no longer be needed.

"We considered the opinion of medical practitioners during the course of the hearing, and there were testimonies that it [cannabis] really provides healing. We have to allow this [to gain ground] so we can test if it is really effective," he said. —NB/KG, GMA Integrated News