Philippines votes overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing medical cannabis, which could position the country as a pioneer in the region

The Philippine House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill to legalize medical cannabis, marking a significant step towards the liberalization of cannabis in Southeast Asia. Chamber bill 10.439, initially presented in May 2024, received its third and final reading last week and was approved by a landslide victory of 177 votes in favor, nine votes against and 9 abstentions. However, it still requires Senate approval. 

If the bill receives final approval in the Senate and is signed into law, a comprehensive framework for medical cannabis will be established, along with a new regulator to oversee the market, the Medical Cannabis Office (MCO).

Following the announcement, Robin Padella, Philippine Democratic Party chairman, senator and longtime cannabis advocate, said in a press release: “The passage of the bill legalizing medical cannabis on the third and final reading in the House of Representatives It's very good news. I am hopeful that its counterpart bill in the Senate that I am defending – the Cannabis Medicalization Law – will also be approved, for the President’s final signature.”

What happened?
O bill, referred to as the “Medical Cannabis Law” for short, was recommended for approval on third reading. It will now be sent to the Senate, where it will go through a similar process, with three readings that will allow senators to debate and amend the bill that should take place before a period of “reconciliation” between the two chambers.

The president will then have the opportunity to approve or veto the project before it is finally approved. This comprehensive bill consolidates multiple previous attempts to legalize medical cannabis by grouping House Bills 241, 243, 2007, 4208, 4638, 4866, 6783, 7616, 7817 and 9028 into a single proposal.

The Medical Cannabis Act establishes the right of patients to access medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative treatment. It also aims to expand research into the medicinal properties of cannabis.

A central feature of the bill is the creation of the Medical Cannabis Office (MCO) under the Department of Health (DOH), which will be responsible for regulating the entire program.

The MCO's responsibilities include issuing authorizations to licensed doctors who wish to prescribe medical cannabis. These doctors must receive a mandatory authorization from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to ensure they are not listed on the agency's dangerous drug watch list.

The MCO will oversee the import, cultivation, manufacture, storage, distribution, prescription and sale of medical cannabis.

A sophisticated monitoring system will also be built to track cannabis from seed to sale, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, the bill recommends integrating medical cannabis studies into college and university curricula to promote a deeper understanding of its medicinal benefits.

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This article was originally published by Ben Stevens on Business of Cannabis and translated into Portuguese by CannaReporter®