BAGUIO CITY – Presidential Assistant for Northern Luzon Raul Lambino urged the Philippine Drug Enforcement (PDEA) and lawmakers to study the possibility of enacting the proposed bill in Congress to legalize the so-called cannabis hemp because of its proven medical benefits to patients suffering from dreaded illnesses.
Lambino, who graced the third quarter joint meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC0 and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in the Cordillera, said that cannabis hemp is different from the locally grown cannabis sativa that has the addictive properties that is why the same should not be inter-changed to the type of cannabis that has the medical properties.
“Cannabis hemp is grown in different parts of Canada and the United States because of its proven medicinal properties that is used for the maintenance and medication of people suffering from dreaded illnesses that is why it is appropriate for lawmakers and concerned government agencies to look into the matter that will warrant the passage of the needed legislation for the same to be mass produced for medical purposes only,” Secretary Lambino stressed.
The Palace aide claimed that once that it will be proven that the cannabis hemp does not contain the addictive properties as the one present in cannabis sativa, legislators should work out the passage of the law that will provide for the stringent rules in the cultivation of the said type of cannabis and the proper prescription of the same to patients suffering from terminal illnesses to ensure their survival.
According to him, the Cordillera will be a suitable place to produce the medicinal cannabis that is why concerned government agencies will be mandated to teach the former marijuana cultivators in producing the same under stringent regulations to prevent the same from being abused.
Lambino said that it is unfortunate that the proposal of former Isabela Rep. and now Isabela Gov. Rodito Albano on the legalization of medicinal marijuana was not acted upon by the members of the 17th Congress, thus, the need for PDEA and other concerned government agencies to come out with a comprehensive study that will differentiate the addictive marijuana from the medical one to convince legislators to support the passage of the legalization of the cannabis hemp to provide alternative cure for people suffering from dreaded illnesses.
Aside from providing the needed alternative medicine for terminal illnesses, Lambino stated that the controlled legalization of the cannabis hemp will provide sources of livelihood for people in the remote villages of the region who had been relying on illegally cultivating the cannabis sativa as their source of livelihood over the past several DECADES.
He underscored that the results of the comprehensive study that will be undertaken and spearheaded by PDEA will help guide policy makers and decision makers in coming out with the appropriate decision on whether or not to enact the pending legislations seeking for the legalization of the production of medicinal cannabis for the benefit of those patients suffering from illnesses that compromise their lives.
Lambino expressed confidence that the PDEA and other concerned government agencies will heed the call for the conduct of a study on the difference between cannabis hemp and canvas sativa. By HENT
