THE Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) has renewed its backing of the move in Congress to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
According to PITAHC Director General Dr. Annabelle de Guzman, the agency continues to support the passage of the bill allowing the use of medical cannabis as long as there are adequate regulatory policies.
“We are okay with it as long as it is regulated. This means that there should be regulation and not everybody can use this as there is a huge difference between recreational and medical use,” De Guzman said in an interview last week.
“It should be regulated… Regulation is very essential in the use of medical cannabis,” she added.
She said such a policy must be preceded by adequate research on the benefits as well as dangers of using marijuana.
“PITAHC supports the regulation of medical cannabis but it should be guided by intensive research on its efficacy and safety,” she said.
De Guzman noted that some indigenous people in the country have been using medical cannabis for the longest time.
“There is knowledge of the indigenous people on the use of medical cannabis. Since they live in the outer areas, they don’t have access to regular medicines,” said De Guzman.
The attached agency of the Department of Health (DOH) also said there are already studies abroad showing the medical benefits of marijuana use.
“We recognize that marijuana has been legalized in 23 states in the United States as different studies have been conducted as well as clinical trials,” she said.
Last May, Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria Arroyo filed House Bill 7817 pushing for the legalization of marijuana use for medical purposes.
Back in 2019, then-President Rodrigo Duterte thumbed down the medical marijuana bill filed in Congress.
