Various experts attended the hearing of the House Committee on Health to convince lawmakers to pass House Bill 4477, or the "Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana Act,'' which was filed by Isabela 1st District Representative Rodolfo Albano III and has 69 co-authors.
The advocates, including a foreign doctor who shared his expertise through a video message, explained the medical significance of cannabis or marijuana.
They insisted that cannabis is a unique drug that has vast potential for treatment.
Marijuana is the only known plant that produces large amounts of a class of chemicals known as cannabinoids, which is naturally produced by the human body.
The cannabinoid system, only discovered roughly two decades ago, is responsible for the regulation and protection of the the body. Cannabis has been used to manage pain, fight inflammation, battle depression, and regulate appetite and sleep, among others.
It has been proven as an effective treatment against serious ailments like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Albano clarified that HB 4477 only seeks to legalize marijuana strictly for medical use only. The bill seeks to regulate the use of cannabis for treatment and medication of patients with debilitating medical conditions.
If enacted, a Medical Cannabis Regulatory Authority under the Department of Health will be established to regulate the medical use of marijuana.
Qualified patients will be given identification cards that will protect them from criminal liability for the use of medical cannabis.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
