Gab Ibis

Marijuana often conjures negative connotations, being viewed as addictive and socially taboo.

Banned for recreational use since 1972, recent legislation now seeks to legalize the plant for medical purposes.

Photo Courtesy of NIRAS.

On Tuesday, July 30, the House of Representatives approved on the third and final reading House Bill 10439, which allows the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Senator Robinhood Padilla and Surigao del Norte Representative Robert Ace Barbers have championed legislative reforms to allow medical marijuana under strict regulation and oversight.

“This bill only grants an exception to the enumeration of prohibited drugs under RA 9165 by limiting it for medicinal use. Cannabis in pharmaceutical form is allowed, provided that you have a prescription,” Barbers said.

Marijuana contains the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, a psychoactive agent that causes euphoria. However, high doses or underlying mental health issues can lead to anxiety, stress or psychotic symptoms.

It also contains the chemical cannabidiol, or CBD, which has potential medicinal effects, including alleviating anxiety, insomnia, pain and depression.

Nearly 40 countries have legalized marijuana for medical use, and seven, including Thailand, Canada, and the United States, have legalized it for recreational use.

Still, concerns remain that legalizing medical marijuana could pave the way for recreational use, especially if regulations are insufficient to prevent diversion to the illicit market or misuse by individuals without legitimate medical needs.

Despite these, medical marijuana offers hope for patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options or experienced adverse effects from standard medications.

“We’re not delisting marijuana (as a prohibited drug). This is not for recreational purposes,” Barbers assured.