The Philippines has in the recent past been making various contradictory moves and public statements when it comes to cannabis. Various Philippine lawmakers have been expressing support for cannabis legalization mainly for medical use. The Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been making statements to the media that would leave one understandably confused. One of his statements was that he uses cannabis to manage the stress of his tough work schedule. This was immediately followed by another statement that the previous statement was a joke. He has also said that he is for medical cannabis use but is against recreational cannabis use.
In the meantime, Philippines has been engaged in one of the most brutal crackdowns by drug enforcement and law enforcement on drug usage with thousands having been executed for involvement with drugs. Many of these deaths are still largely unaccounted for. This has led to a large global outcry by human rights groups. A number of Philippine lawmakers have been accused of involvement with the drug industry. The Philippine president is looked up to as a role model by some world leaders who seem to be intent on continuing a dangerous, devastating and futile war on drugs using force such as Brazilian leader Jair Bolsanaro and Sri Lanka's president Sirisena. The violent war on drugs is quite often a way for drug cartels with the support of politicians to consolidate their positions and eliminate competition while the drug epidemic, which is an issue on a deeper social and health level rather than on a criminal level, continues to rage in society and grow out of hand.
In parallel with the brutal war on drugs, methamphetamine, known locally as 'shabu' is said to be thriving in the country with meth labs widespread in many places. There is talk that the Philippine meth cartels work in conjunction with the Mexican drug cartels to form a powerful international network manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine world wide. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2020 says that - 'Similarly, in the Philippines, on the basis of a 2016 household survey, 1.1 per cent of the population aged 10–69, or approximately 850,000 people, were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine, while in Thailand 1.3 per cent of the population (653,000 people) aged 12–65 were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine tablets, whereas 0.7 per cent of the population (372,000) used crystal methamphetamine in 2019.' It also says that - 'People receiving treatment for the use of methamphetamine account for more than three quarters of those in treatment in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand'. Philippines was one of the countries in which the most number of methamphetamine laboratories were dismantled in the period 2014–2018.
Cannabis is one of the safest and most medicinal recreational plants known to man with a history of usage that dates back to as far as man can remember. The plant is said to have evolved from the Humulus plant from which hops to make beer also branched out about 28 million years ago. The human body and that of many other animals have evolved to live along with cannabis through the endocannabinoid system that is found in many parts of the body. The cannabis plant has been validated by numerous leading international medical bodies including the WHO, research institutions and medical experts. Its continued crack down by authorities has probably taken a huge toll on cannabis growers, cannabis varieties and cannabis users in Philippines with the law enforcement treating cannabis on par with the deadly methamphetamine. It is essential for Philippines to legalize cannabis for recreational use so that the people have a safe alternative natural recreational drug that they can go to in place of methamphetamine, heroin, synthetic cannabis, novel psychotropic substances, alcohol and abuse of prescription drugs.
It is important for the Philippine President to understand the changes that are going through American and European society that he looks to mimic with regard to cannabis and what is driving these changes. Prohibition of cannabis and the war on drugs has not worked in any of these places including the country that started it, the federal US. It has only led to widespread health issues like the opioid crisis and heroin addiction with a huge number of fatalities reported in the last few years. The effects have been so devastating with nearly a century of cannabis prohibition in the US that about 46 states out of 50 have gone against federal laws and legalized cannabis for recreational and/or medical use through state legislation. An overwhelming majority of American people and politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties now support cannabis legalization. In its emulation of all things American, it is most important for Philippines to learn from the mistakes made by the US federal government in the past decades and not continue to blindly copy and repeat them. Legalization of cannabis for full adult recreational use must be implemented at the earliest in the Philippines for the well being of the nation and its people especially the poorest, the minorities, the indigenous communities who face the most oppression by law and drug enforcement agencies, the elderly, the youth, women and the ill.
In the meantime, Philippines has been engaged in one of the most brutal crackdowns by drug enforcement and law enforcement on drug usage with thousands having been executed for involvement with drugs. Many of these deaths are still largely unaccounted for. This has led to a large global outcry by human rights groups. A number of Philippine lawmakers have been accused of involvement with the drug industry. The Philippine president is looked up to as a role model by some world leaders who seem to be intent on continuing a dangerous, devastating and futile war on drugs using force such as Brazilian leader Jair Bolsanaro and Sri Lanka's president Sirisena. The violent war on drugs is quite often a way for drug cartels with the support of politicians to consolidate their positions and eliminate competition while the drug epidemic, which is an issue on a deeper social and health level rather than on a criminal level, continues to rage in society and grow out of hand.
In parallel with the brutal war on drugs, methamphetamine, known locally as 'shabu' is said to be thriving in the country with meth labs widespread in many places. There is talk that the Philippine meth cartels work in conjunction with the Mexican drug cartels to form a powerful international network manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine world wide. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2020 says that - 'Similarly, in the Philippines, on the basis of a 2016 household survey, 1.1 per cent of the population aged 10–69, or approximately 850,000 people, were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine, while in Thailand 1.3 per cent of the population (653,000 people) aged 12–65 were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine tablets, whereas 0.7 per cent of the population (372,000) used crystal methamphetamine in 2019.' It also says that - 'People receiving treatment for the use of methamphetamine account for more than three quarters of those in treatment in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand'. Philippines was one of the countries in which the most number of methamphetamine laboratories were dismantled in the period 2014–2018.
Cannabis is one of the safest and most medicinal recreational plants known to man with a history of usage that dates back to as far as man can remember. The plant is said to have evolved from the Humulus plant from which hops to make beer also branched out about 28 million years ago. The human body and that of many other animals have evolved to live along with cannabis through the endocannabinoid system that is found in many parts of the body. The cannabis plant has been validated by numerous leading international medical bodies including the WHO, research institutions and medical experts. Its continued crack down by authorities has probably taken a huge toll on cannabis growers, cannabis varieties and cannabis users in Philippines with the law enforcement treating cannabis on par with the deadly methamphetamine. It is essential for Philippines to legalize cannabis for recreational use so that the people have a safe alternative natural recreational drug that they can go to in place of methamphetamine, heroin, synthetic cannabis, novel psychotropic substances, alcohol and abuse of prescription drugs.
It is important for the Philippine President to understand the changes that are going through American and European society that he looks to mimic with regard to cannabis and what is driving these changes. Prohibition of cannabis and the war on drugs has not worked in any of these places including the country that started it, the federal US. It has only led to widespread health issues like the opioid crisis and heroin addiction with a huge number of fatalities reported in the last few years. The effects have been so devastating with nearly a century of cannabis prohibition in the US that about 46 states out of 50 have gone against federal laws and legalized cannabis for recreational and/or medical use through state legislation. An overwhelming majority of American people and politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties now support cannabis legalization. In its emulation of all things American, it is most important for Philippines to learn from the mistakes made by the US federal government in the past decades and not continue to blindly copy and repeat them. Legalization of cannabis for full adult recreational use must be implemented at the earliest in the Philippines for the well being of the nation and its people especially the poorest, the minorities, the indigenous communities who face the most oppression by law and drug enforcement agencies, the elderly, the youth, women and the ill.
In December 2020, the UN voted to remove cannabis from its most
restricted Schedule IV category of the 1961 Single Convention on
Narcotic Drugs. It does however still remain in Schedule I, which is the
least restrictive. This one move by the UN itself should be sufficient
to bring about the recreational legalization of cannabis in every nation
and an overhaul of national drug laws.
Listed below are articles taken from various media related to the above subject. Words in italics are the thoughts of your truly at the time of reading the article.
'A searing, on-the-ground look at President Rodrigo Duterte’s deadly campaign against suspected drug dealers and users in the Philippines, “On the President’s Orders” is told with unprecedented access to the police themselves. It offers a gripping, visually stunning window into the war on drugs — those carrying it out, and those most impacted by it.'
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/on-the-presidents-orders/
'The 48-page report, “‘Our Happy Family Is Gone’: Impact of the ‘War on Drugs’ on Children in the Philippines,” details the plight of children whose parents or guardians have been killed. Many children have suffered psychological distress, and all experienced economic hardship made worse by the death of a family breadwinner. The increased poverty and trauma have led many children to leave school or compelled them to work. Some children who lost a family member have faced bullying in their school and community. Some were forced to live on the streets.'
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/27/philippines-lasting-harm-children-drug-war
'More than one third (9.9 million people) of the estimated global number of users of amphetamines are in East and South-East Asia. The increased use of methamphetamine, both in the form of tablets and crystalline methamphetamine, continues to be reported in the subregion. A recent household survey conducted in Indonesia in 2017 reported past-year prevalence of the use of amphetamines at 0.5 per cent, or roughly 1 million past-year users, 850,000 of whom were past-year users of methamphetamine. Similarly, in the Philippines, on the basis of a 2016 household survey, 1.1 per cent of the population aged 10–69, or approximately 850,000 people, were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine, while in Thailand 1.3 per cent of the population (653,000 people) aged 12–65 were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine tablets, whereas 0.7 per cent of the population (372,000) used crystal methamphetamine in 2019.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_2.pdf
'Treatment for the use of amphetamine-type stimulants is more common in Asia (predominantly for the use of methamphetamine) and Oceania (based on data from Australia and New Zealand) than in other regions. As is the case with cannabis users, people who are in treatment for disorders related to the use of amphetamines tend to be younger – in their mid-twenties – than users of opioids in treatment, and the majority of them also tend to be first-time entrants. People receiving treatment for the use of methamphetamine account for more than three quarters of those in treatment in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_2.pdf
'The region with the next largest number of methamphetamine laboratories dismantled was Asia, accounting for 6 per cent of the global total in the period 2014–2018. Most of these facilities were dismantled in China and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which together accounted for 94 per cent of all reported laboratories dismantled in Asia, while some clandestine methamphetamine laboratories were also dismantled, in descending order of importance, in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, the Republic of Korea, Myanmar and Hong Kong, China. In addition, the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine has been reported in recent years by Afghanistan and Iraq.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
'The United States, for example, has been reported by other countries as a country of departure of methamphetamine for Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), Asia (Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, China and Mongolia) and Europe (Ireland). Moreover, methamphetamine trafficking has been reported not only from Mexico or from Canada into the United States but also from the United States to those two countries, suggesting a number of two-way trafficking flows across the countries of North America. Methamphetamine trafficked from Canada has been reported in the United States, South America (Chile), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and a few countries in Europe (Iceland and Latvia).' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
'Quantities of methamphetamine seized in East and South-East Asia increased eightfold over the period 2009–2018, to close to 100 tons, and preliminary data for 2019 show further strong increases in the quantities of methamphetamine seized, in particular in South-East Asia, with increases reported in 2019 by, among other countries, Brunei Daraussalam, Cambodia. Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam. In most years in the past decade the largest quantities of methamphetamine seized in East and South-East Asia were reported by China. In 2018, by contrast, 66 per cent of all the methamphetamine seized in that subregion was seized in Thailand, followed by Indonesia (8 per cent) and Malaysia (8 per cent) and only then by China (6 per cent), reflecting underlying shifts in the methamphetamine market in South-East Asia, that is, a decline in the methamphetamine market in China in parallel with ongoing increases in the ASEAN countries.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020,
https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/on-the-presidents-orders/
'The 48-page report, “‘Our Happy Family Is Gone’: Impact of the ‘War on Drugs’ on Children in the Philippines,” details the plight of children whose parents or guardians have been killed. Many children have suffered psychological distress, and all experienced economic hardship made worse by the death of a family breadwinner. The increased poverty and trauma have led many children to leave school or compelled them to work. Some children who lost a family member have faced bullying in their school and community. Some were forced to live on the streets.'
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/27/philippines-lasting-harm-children-drug-war
'More than one third (9.9 million people) of the estimated global number of users of amphetamines are in East and South-East Asia. The increased use of methamphetamine, both in the form of tablets and crystalline methamphetamine, continues to be reported in the subregion. A recent household survey conducted in Indonesia in 2017 reported past-year prevalence of the use of amphetamines at 0.5 per cent, or roughly 1 million past-year users, 850,000 of whom were past-year users of methamphetamine. Similarly, in the Philippines, on the basis of a 2016 household survey, 1.1 per cent of the population aged 10–69, or approximately 850,000 people, were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine, while in Thailand 1.3 per cent of the population (653,000 people) aged 12–65 were estimated to be past-year users of methamphetamine tablets, whereas 0.7 per cent of the population (372,000) used crystal methamphetamine in 2019.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_2.pdf
'Treatment for the use of amphetamine-type stimulants is more common in Asia (predominantly for the use of methamphetamine) and Oceania (based on data from Australia and New Zealand) than in other regions. As is the case with cannabis users, people who are in treatment for disorders related to the use of amphetamines tend to be younger – in their mid-twenties – than users of opioids in treatment, and the majority of them also tend to be first-time entrants. People receiving treatment for the use of methamphetamine account for more than three quarters of those in treatment in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_2.pdf
'The region with the next largest number of methamphetamine laboratories dismantled was Asia, accounting for 6 per cent of the global total in the period 2014–2018. Most of these facilities were dismantled in China and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which together accounted for 94 per cent of all reported laboratories dismantled in Asia, while some clandestine methamphetamine laboratories were also dismantled, in descending order of importance, in Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, the Republic of Korea, Myanmar and Hong Kong, China. In addition, the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine has been reported in recent years by Afghanistan and Iraq.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
'The United States, for example, has been reported by other countries as a country of departure of methamphetamine for Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), Asia (Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, China and Mongolia) and Europe (Ireland). Moreover, methamphetamine trafficking has been reported not only from Mexico or from Canada into the United States but also from the United States to those two countries, suggesting a number of two-way trafficking flows across the countries of North America. Methamphetamine trafficked from Canada has been reported in the United States, South America (Chile), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and a few countries in Europe (Iceland and Latvia).' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020, https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
'Quantities of methamphetamine seized in East and South-East Asia increased eightfold over the period 2009–2018, to close to 100 tons, and preliminary data for 2019 show further strong increases in the quantities of methamphetamine seized, in particular in South-East Asia, with increases reported in 2019 by, among other countries, Brunei Daraussalam, Cambodia. Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam. In most years in the past decade the largest quantities of methamphetamine seized in East and South-East Asia were reported by China. In 2018, by contrast, 66 per cent of all the methamphetamine seized in that subregion was seized in Thailand, followed by Indonesia (8 per cent) and Malaysia (8 per cent) and only then by China (6 per cent), reflecting underlying shifts in the methamphetamine market in South-East Asia, that is, a decline in the methamphetamine market in China in parallel with ongoing increases in the ASEAN countries.' - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, World Drug Report 2020,
https://wdr.unodc.org/wdr2020/field/WDR20_Booklet_3.pdf
'As The Intercept reported last week, the Trump administration assembled a number of hard-line countries, including Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, as partners before sending out the action plan to all member states. The Philippines — where President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war has drawn international criticism for its extrajudicial killings and brutality — and Myanmar, whose government stands accused of genocide, were both included on the final list. Israel signed on, but its U.N. delegation did not attend, presumably to make it easier for other countries, such as those Arab nations who eschew formal relations with Israel, to appear.'
https://theintercept.com/2018/09/25/donald-trump-united-nations-drugs/
'Israel reportedly balked at signing a deal to expand police cooperation with the Philippines Wednesday, after the Justice Ministry raised objections over visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody crackdown on drug users.'
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-nix-police-agreement-with-philippines-over-bloody-drug-war/
'2018 has seen support for cannabis reform surge around the world, but many countries - including Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Brazil - have been intensifying their prohibitionist drug policies, or seem intent to do so. Take a look at the map to see some of the developments that have taken place over the past year. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.'
https://www.talkingdrugs.org/interactive-map-global-drug-policy-developments-of-2018
From 4 years ago. Legalize ganja in the Philippines to provide people with a healthy and safe recreational drug instead of shabu i.e. crystal meth aka methamphetamine and to end the war on drugs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ0I7HyZNiI
'The Supreme Court also said that at the very least, the government must prove that it has documented all killings, especially those in legitimate police drug operations.
Of the 20,000 or more cases of killings, the government recognized that 5,000 are the result of police operations. The government is not investigating the 5,000 due to the presumption of regularity.
Excluding numbers from Manila, Quezon City, and Taguig prosecutors, all in all, the government has prosecuted only 76 cases, meaning it has let thousands go unsolved.'
https://www.rappler.com/nation/227214-supreme-court-decision-release-drug-war-documents
'The Philippine National Police estimate that they have killed about 4,500 users and dealers in drug enforcement operations in the past two years, and insist that all of the killings were legitimate uses of force.
Rights groups, including the New York-based Human Rights Watch, estimate that more than 12,000 people have died in the drug war, many of them victims of summary execution by the police.'
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/27/world/asia/rodrigo-duterte-philippines-drug-war.html
'Four senatorial candidates think medical marijuana should be legalized in the Philippines.
At the CNN Philippines senatorial forum on Sunday, December 2, the 8 candidates who participated were asked, "Should medical marijuana be legalized?"'
https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2019/218038-cnn-philippines-senatorial-forum-stand-legalization-medical-marijuana
Well, if it was a joke, then he should seriously be thinking about taking up smoking marijuana. That should relax him if hectic schedules, sleeping at the wrong times and the war on drugs are his biggest problems, especially at his age. That's precisely the reasons why many in his age group are embracing marijuana in places where it has been legalized across the world.
'Later that day, in an interview with reporters, Duterte said he was only joking.
"Of course it was a joke," he said, adding that such "humor" is part of his "style."'
https://www.rappler.com/nation/218111-duterte-says-he-takes-marijuana-stay-awake
'Malacañang reiterated Tuesday that President Rodrigo Duterte is in favor of legalizing medical marijuana, a day after the nation’s top leader joked about using cannabis to stay awake.
“Well, the President already made a statement on that prior. He said for purposes of medicine to heal, he’s in favor, but not for use other than that,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing'
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1059887/duterte-favors-controlled-regulated-use-of-marijuana-for-healing-palaces
'Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo noted Duterte has already made his stand on several instances favoring the legalization of medical marijuana.
"Since the President already made a statement that he’s in favor of limited use of marijuana… logically, then he will support… and sign any bill that would be consistent with his stand,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.'
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/18/18/palace-duterte-willing-to-sign-any-medical-marijuana-bill
'There are only three weeks of sessions left in the 17th Congress, and these will resume on January 14. Since it is an election year, House members’ attention will be split between legislative work and campaign or election-related activities in their districts.
The move to legalize medical cannabis received renewed attention recently thanks to statements from two high-profile people: President Rodrigo Duterte and 2018 Miss Universe pageant winner Catriona Gray.'
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/01/01/gma-can-still-push-through-with-medical-cannabis-albano/
'“I really believe in medical cannabis. As you know I have my problem here (cervical spine) and when I’m in a country that allows it, I put a pain patch but here in the Philippines, I cannot do it,” Arroyo said in an interview during a consultation and medical mission at NGC West, Gilarmi Covered Court in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City.
The former president said she co-authored the bill because it could help her and other people.'
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1073312/arroyo-on-medical-marijuana-it-works
'Domingo said the hands of both the DOH and FDA are tied because Congress has yet to pass a law enabling government agencies to conduct clinical studies on medical marijuana.
“We cannot go full-blast into studying the actual product kasi (because) it’s not listed as a registrable product with FDA at this time. Walang batas (There is no law) listing it as a registrable product,” Domingo said in a press briefing in Malacañan Palace.'
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1059081
'The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a bill legalizing and regulating the use of medical marijuana.
House Bill 6517, backed by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, hurdled second reading through viva voce voting.
The proposed measure, once enacted into law, would provide patients suffering from serious diseases with alternative medicine in the form of cannabis.'
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/01/23/1887535/bill-legalizing-medical-marijuana-passes-second-reading
'All seven senatorial candidates in the CNN Philippines' forum on Sunday favor the legalization of medical marijuana.
Former Interior Secretaries Raffy Alunan and Mar Roxas, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, former Congressmen Neri Colmenares and Erin Tañada, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, and former Bangsamoro Transition Commission member Samira Gutoc all raised their "yes" cards when asked the question: "Should marijuana be legalized for ailments such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, seizures, and serious chronic pain?"'
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/01/27/medical-marijuana-cnn-philippines-senatorial-forum.html
'Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III on Sunday said Congress is likely to pass on third and final reading House Bill No. 6517 or the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis.
In an interview over dzBB, Albano said the controversial measure may be approved on third reading today.'
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/286358/congress-eyes-passage-of-medical-marijuana-bill.html
'The bill before the Philippines parliament would make medical cannabis accessible only through pharmacists at DOH-retained hospitals, specialty hospitals and private territory hospitals licensed and registered with the DOH for such a purpose.
The proposed law now faces a third and final vote in the House before being transmitted to the Senate, where some lawmakers have expressed support for the bill.
If approved in the Senate, the bill goes to a Conference Committee that could introduce new provisions or simply try to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has the final say and has expressed support for any legislation to legalize medical marijuana.'
https://mjbizdaily.com/philippines-medical-cannabis-bill-advances-but-its-not-law-yet/
'The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed on third and final reading a measure that would allow the use of and research in medical marijuana in the country.
House Bill (HB) No. 6517, or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, was approved with a vote of 163-5 with three abstentions.'
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1060435
Eliminating competition and covering tracks?
'Though the administration refers to the 46 as narcopoliticians, they have so far only been filed administrative complaints to do with misconduct, and not criminal complaints linked to illegal drugs.
Duterte said he felt "morally, legally bound" to inform Filipinos who among their elected government officials are into narcotics.
"If they still vote for you, fine, this is still a democracy. But the people ought to know and that is my solemn oath to inform the public," he said.'
https://www.rappler.com/nation/227445-duterte-will-not-release-list-celebrities-into-illegal-drugs
'Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza has accused lawmakers supporting the legalization of medical marijuana as being “eager to go into the business of cultivating the illegal drug and running dispensaries.”
“There are politicians who want to profit from legalized medical marijuana. This is clearly all about money—lots of money,” the House senior deputy minority leader said.'
http://manilastandard.net/news/national/285255/pro-medical-marijuana-solons-hit.html
'“Thousands of patients in the country are suffering from serious and debilitating diseases and they need this. We don’t have to put them in jeopardy, ” he said.
Albano’s bill seeks the creation of a Medical Cannabis Regulatory Authority which is tasked to issue registry identification cards to qualified patients and caregivers. It will be under the umbrella of the Department of Health (DOH) to regulate the medical use of cannabis in the country.'
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/24/solon-says-bill-legalizing-medical-marijuana-has-no-chance-of-hurdling-17th-congress/
'But the President said he has also “forgiven” Obama for making comments about his controversial war on drugs.'
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/03/18/i-am-sorry-duterte-apologizes-to-obama
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https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/03/cannabis-and-youth.html
Cannabis Opposition
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-opposition.html
Cannabis Laws
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-laws.html
Cannabis and Crime
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-crime.html
Cannabis Advocacy
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-advocacy.html
Cannabis convictions and imprisonment
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-convictions-and-imprisonment.html
Cannabis and the DEA
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-dea.html
Cannabis and the Black Market
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-black-market.html
Cannabis and the Environment
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-and-environment.html
Cannabis as an Agricultural Crop
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-as-agricultural-crop.html
Cannabis as Medicine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-as-medicine.html
Cannabis for Recreational Purposes
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-for-recreational-purposes.html
Cannabis and Research
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/cannabis-and-research.html
The Business of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-business-of-cannabis.html
The Economics of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-economics-of-cannabis.html
The Legality of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-legality-of-cannabis.html
The Politics of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-politics-of-cannabis.html
The Social Usage of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-social-usage-of-cannabis.html
No medicinal value?
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/02/no-medicinal-value.html
Cannabis Patients
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-patients.html
Cannabis and the Elderly
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-elderly.html
Cannabis as Universal Medicine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-as-universal-medicine.html
Cannabis and Harm Reduction
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-harm-reduction.html
The Recreational Cannabis Consumer
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-recreational-cannabis-consumer.html
The History of Cannabis
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-history-of-cannabis.html
Cannabis and Politicians
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-politicians.html
Cannabis Tourism
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-tourism.html
Cannabis and Cooking
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-cooking.html
Cannabis in the Workplace
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-in-workplace.html
Cannabis and the US Federal Government
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-and-us-federal-government.html
Cannabis and Cancer
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-cancer.html
Cannabis and Cancer Patients
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-cancer-patients.html
Cannabis and HIV
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/05/cannabis-and-hiv.html
Cannabis and Alcohol
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-alcohol.html
Cannabis and Tobacco
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-tobacco.html
Cannabis and Methamphetamine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-methamphetamine.html
Cannabis and Opioids
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-opioids.html
Cannabis and Synthetic Cannabinoids
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/cannabis-and-synthetic-cannabinoids.html
Cannabis and the Medical Industry
With no scientific basis global drug laws are invalid
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/06/with-no-scientific-basis-global-drug.html
A Look At The NDPS Act 1985 From A Cannabis Perspective
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-look-at-ndps-act-1985-from-cannabis.html
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/06/with-no-scientific-basis-global-drug.html
A Look At The NDPS Act 1985 From A Cannabis Perspective
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-look-at-ndps-act-1985-from-cannabis.html
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/cannabis-usage-in-19th-century.html
19th Century usage of cannabis as medicine by Indian physicians
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/19th-century-usage-of-cannabis-as.html
Cannabis and Sickle Cell Disease
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-sickle-cell-disease.html
Cannabis and Nausea
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-nausea.html
Cannabis and Insanity
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-insanity.html
References to medicinal cannabis in ancient texts
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/references-to-medicinal-cannabis-in.html
Cannabis and the Digestive System
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/03/cannabis-and-digestive-system.html
Cannabis and Cocaine
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-cocaine.html
Cannabis and Benzodiazepines
https://ravingkoshy.blogspot.com/2020/11/cannabis-and-benzodiazepines.html
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