By Liz Soriano
MANILA — The proposal to legalize medical marijuana for patients with qualifying medical conditions has advanced to the plenary stage following the endorsement of 13 senators.
Committee Report 210, corresponding to Senate Bill 2573 authored by Sen. Robin Padilla, titled the “Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines,” garnered signatures from a significant portion of the Senate.
Senators Padilla, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Lito Lapid, and Raffy Tulfo endorsed the bill without reservation. However, Senators Christopher “Bong” Go, Jinggoy Estrada, Mark Villar, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Joel Villanueva, and Grace Poe signed with reservations.
The proposed bill aims to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, specifically for alleviating or treating debilitating medical conditions or symptoms.
“The use of cannabis for medical purposes is hereby permitted, as herein provided for in this Act, to treat or alleviate a qualified patient’s debilitating medical condition or symptoms,” the bill states.
