Leyte Colleges

Paterno Street, 6500, Tacloban City

College Of Law

LEGAL RESEARCH
Instructor: Atty. Amelia B. Docena

JD- 1B
Docil, Marciano C. III
Jacaban. Arnulfo L. Jr.
Opon Ma. Teresa R.
Teves, Mikael Ryan G.
Yu, Rachelle B.

Abstract
Many countries from all-round the globe have laws prohibiting the use of marijuana. Most of these
countries categorize marijuana in the same category with hard drugs, but there is not enough
evidence showing that pot is a destructive drug (Owen, 2014). Many people have negative
perceptions about marijuana users, but this is because they lack the first experience with the use of
the drugs. In many countries, alcohol and tobacco are legal, but marijuana is illegal (Owen, 2014).
According to research use of alcohol and tobacco results in more life-threatening health side effects
that marijuana consumption.

Debate has surrounded the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes for decades. Some have
argued medical marijuana legalization (MML) poses a threat to public health and safety, perhaps
also affecting crime rates. In recent years, some countries have legalized marijuana for medical
purposes, reigniting political and public interest in the impact of marijuana legalization on a range of
outcomes. There are already several countries that have accepted marijuana as a soft drug,
separating it from more dangerous ones. Various therapeutic properties have even been attributed
to its use. Others, however, think that its use should be prohibited due to the mental interference and
behavioral changes produced either by its occasional use as well as the permanent mental damage
linked to chronic marijuana use. In order to clarify this divergence of opinions, the scientific literature
is reviewed. It is concluded that there is a serious risk, especially for teenagers, associated to chronic
marijuana use due to the presence of more frequent psychotic and schizophrenic episodes, which can
be permanent, while consumption during pregnancy results in brain damage to the fetus, similar to
fetal alcohol syndrome. Scientific research also indicated that smoking marijuana produces an even
more severe bronchial damage than tobacco, with risk of lung cancer. In conclusion, the notion that
marijuana is a risk-free soft drug is a serious mistake, based on the available conclusive scientific
research that shows the opposite.
 Chapter 1

Introduction
In today’s society, marijuana or cannabis is commonly utilized by many teens and
adults. Whether it is for medical reasons, socializing, obtaining a high, or escaping
depression; marijuana has impacted the lives of us humans in a lively manner. Even
though cannabis is an illegal drug, countless amounts of people do not stop from
getting a hold of it. There is only so much the law enforcement can do if the people
do not wish to listen. Although marijuana affects the natural brain functions such as:
memory, coordination, learning, and the ability to problem solve; allowing it to stay
illegal causes no difference in the use, but inflicts on other more important issues that
need to be dealt with.

The cultivation and use of cannabis in the Philippines is illegal under Republic Act
9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. As the Philippines is a
signatory to the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, Cannabis
is classified as a Schedule I drug, which limits its use to medical and scientific
purposes. Marijuana is the second most used drug in the Philippines, after shabu
(methamphetamine), and most cultivation in the country is for local consumption.
Cannabis is cultivated mostly in the remote, mountainous regions of Luzon and
Mindanao.

Cannabis has been illegal in the Philippines since 1972 by virtue of Republic Act No.
6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.[5] RA6425 classified marijuana as a
prohibited drug, and detailed out punishments for the importation, sale, manufacture,
cultivation, possession, and use of the drug, as well as possession of any drug-
related paraphernalia. RA6425 also created the Dangerous Drugs Board, giving it
jurisdiction over drug-related cases. In 2002, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002 was signed, repealing RA6425.[1] RA9165 also enabled the creation of
the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which handles the implementation and
enforcement of policies and strategies made by the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Under the current law, the importation, sale, maintenance of a den, dive or resort,
manufacture, use, and cultivation of marijuana and marijuana-related products shall
be met with life imprisonment and a fine.

While cannabis remains widely illegal including medical use, individuals with serious
or terminal illness may apply for special permit from Food and Drugs Authority for
drugs unregistered in the Philippines including those containing cannabis. Since
issuance of permits began in 1992, only one application has been filed to seek
consent to use cannabis oil as of December 2018.

History of Marijuana Use

Marijuana, also known as cannabis or pot, has a long history of human use. Most
ancient cultures didn’t grow the plant to get high, but as herbal medicine, likely
starting in Asia around 500 BC. The history of cannabis cultivation in America dates
back to the early colonists, who grew hemp for textiles and rope. Political and racial
factors in the 20th century led to the criminalization of marijuana in the United States,
though its legal status is changing in many places.
The cannabis or hemp plant originally evolved in Central Asia before people
introduced the plant into Africa, Europe and eventually the Americas. Hemp fiber was
used to make clothing, paper, sails and rope, and its seeds were used as food.
Because it’s a fast-growing plant that’s easy to cultivate and has many uses, hemp
was widely grown throughout colonial America and at Spanish missions in the
Southwest. In the early 1600s, the Virginia, Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies
required farmers to grow hemp.
These early hemp plants had very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the
chemical responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering effects.
There’s some evidence that ancient cultures knew about the psychoactive properties
of the cannabis plant. They may have cultivated some varieties to produce higher
levels of THC for use in religious ceremonies or healing practice.
Burned cannabis seeds have been found in the graves of shamans in China and
Siberia from as early as 500 BC.

History of Medical Marijuana in the Philippines

The United Nations listed cannabis as a Schedule I drug in 1961, and the Philippines
backed up this decision by signing the UN’s Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
treaty. Since then, marijuana use has been illegal in the country. However, even with
the passing of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, the medical and
scientific implementation of cannabis hasn’t been outlawed, but it also hasn’t been
regulated.
Marijuana is the second most abused drug in the Philippines. When President
Rodrigo Duterte was elected in 2016, he took a staunch anti-drug stance. He has
since led a drug war seeking to make the Philippines drug-free by the end of his term
in 2022. Despite this, he is unopposed to the legalization of marijuana for medicinal
purposes.
The legalization of HB 180 has a long way to go. It will likely be revised countless
times and go through a series of debates and amendments. Then, it will go to a vote
in the House of Representatives, and a counterpart will be voted on by the Senate.
Only once it’s approved by both houses will it go before the president to either sign
or veto. The bill has some vocal detractors, so it may take a while to pass.

Side Effects of Using Marijuana

Marijuana has both short-and long-term effects on the brain.
 Short-Term Effects
When a person smokes marijuana, THC quickly passes from the lungs into the
bloodstream. The blood carries the chemical to the brain and other organs throughout
the body. The body absorbs THC more slowly when the person eats or drinks it. In
that case, they generally feel the effects after 30 minutes to 1 hour.
THC acts on specific brain cell receptors that ordinarily react to natural THC-like
chemicals. These natural chemicals play a role in normal brain development and
function.
Marijuana over activates parts of the brain that contain the highest number of these
receptors. This causes the "high" that people feel. Other effects include:
  altered senses (for example, seeing brighter colors)
 altered sense of time
 changes in mood
 impaired body movement
 difficulty with thinking and problem-solving
 impaired memory
 hallucinations (when taken in high doses)
 delusions (when taken in high doses)
 psychosis (risk is highest with regular use of high potency
marijuana)

 Long-Term Effects
Marijuana also affects brain development. When people begin using marijuana as
teenagers, the drug may impair thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect
how the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions.
Researchers are still studying how long marijuana's effects last and whether some
changes may be permanent.
Marijuana use may have a wide range of effects, both physical and mental.
 Physical Effects

Breathing problems. Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and people who smoke
marijuana frequently can have the same breathing problems as those who smoke
tobacco. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness,
and a higher risk of lung infections. Researchers so far haven't found a higher risk for
lung cancer in people who smoke marijuana.8
Increased heart rate. Marijuana raises heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. This
effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart
problems may be at higher risk.
Problems with child development during and after pregnancy. Children exposed to
marijuana in the womb have an increased risk of problems with attention, memory,
and problem-solving compared to unexposed children. Some research also suggests
that moderate amounts of THC are excreted into the breast milk of nursing mothers.
With regular use, THC can reach amounts in breast milk that could affect the baby's
developing brain. Other recent research suggests an increased risk of preterm births.
More research is needed. Read our Marijuana Research Report for more information
about marijuana and pregnancy.
Intense nausea and vomiting. Regular, long-term marijuana use can lead to some
people to develop Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. This causes users to
experience regular cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, sometimes
requiring emergency medical attention.

Is marijuana addictive?
Marijuana use can lead to the development of a substance use disorder, a medical
illness in which the person is unable to stop using even though it's causing health
and social problems in their life. Severe substance use disorders are also known as
addiction. Research suggests that between 9 and 30 percent of those who use
marijuana may develop some degree of marijuana use disorder.25 People who begin
using marijuana before age 18 are four to seven times more likely than adults to
develop a marijuana use disorder.26
Many people who use marijuana long term and are trying to quit report mild
withdrawal symptoms that make quitting difficult. These include:
 grouchiness
 sleeplessness
 decreased appetite
 anxiety
 cravings

Benefits of Using Marijuana

1. Slow and stop cancer cells from spreading
It was found in the study, published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics,
that Cannabidiol has the ability to stop cancer by turning off a gene called Id-1. In
2007, researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, reported
that CBD may prevent cancer from spreading. The researchers experimented on
breast cancer cells in the lab that had high level of Id-1, and treated them with
cannabidiol.
The outcome was rather positive, the cells had decreased Id-1 expression, and were
less aggressive spreaders. In fact, the American Association for Cancer Research
has found that marijuana actually works to slow down tumor growth in brain, breast,
and lungs considerately.
2. Prevent Alzheimer’s
THC, the active ingredient present in marijuana slows the progression of Alzheimer’s
disease, a 2006 study led by Kim Janda of the Scripps Research Institute found out.
THC slows the formation of amyloid plaques by blocking the enzyme in the brain that
makes them. These plaques kill the brain cells, and potentially lead to Alzheimer’s
disease.
3. Treat Glaucoma
Marijuana can be used to treat glaucoma, which increases the pressure in the
eyeball, injuring the optic nerve and causing loss of vision. According to National Eye
Institute, marijuana lowers the pressure inside the eye.
“Studies in the early 1970s showed that marijuana, when smoked, lowered
intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with normal pressure and those with glaucoma.”
These effects of the drug can prevent blindness.
4. Relieve Arthritis
In 2011, researchers reported that cannabis reduces pain and inflammation, and
promotes sleep, which may help relieve pain and discomfort for people with
rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers of the rheumatology units at several hospitals gave their patients
Sativex, a cannabinoid-based pain-relieving medicine. After two weeks, patients on
Sativex had a significant reduction in pain, and improved better sleep quality
compared to placebo users.
5. Control Epileptic seizure
A 2003 study showed that marijuana use can control epileptic seizure.
Robert J. DeLorenzo, of Virginia Commonwealth University, gave marijuana extract
and synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats. The drugs stopped the seizures in about 10
hours.
It is found out that the THC controlled the seizures by binding the brain cells
responsible for controlling excitability and regulating relaxation. The results were
published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.
6. Ease the pain of multiple sclerosis
Marijuana works to stop the negative neurological effects and muscle spasms caused
by multiple sclerosis. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association
suggests that marijuana may ease painful symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
Jody Cory Bloom studied 30 multiple sclerosis patients with painful contractions in
their muscles. These patients didn’t respond to other medications, but after smoking
marijuana for few days, they reported that they were in less pain. The THC in the pot
bonds the receptors in the nerves and muscles to relieve pain.
7. Soothe tremors for people with Parkinson’s disease
Recent studies from Israel shows that smoking marijuana remarkably reduces pains
and tremors and improves sleep for Parkinson’s disease patients. What was
impressive about the research was the improvement of the fine motor skills among
patients.
Israel has made medical marijuana legal, and a lot of research into the medical uses
of weed is done there, supported by the Israeli Government.
8. Help with Crohn’s disease
Cannabis may be helpful with curing Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an
inflammatory bowel disorder that causes pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and
more.
But a recent study in Israel showed that smoking a joint considerably reduced Crohn’s
disease symptoms in 10 out of 11 patients, and caused a complete cancellation of
the disease in five of those patients.
Of course, this is a small study, but other researches have shown similar results. The
cannabinoids from cannabis seem to help the gut control bacteria and intestinal
function.
9. Decrease the symptoms of Dravet’s Syndrome
Dravet Syndrome causes seizures and severe developmental delays. Dr. Sanjay
Gupta, renowned chief medical correspondent for CNN, is treating a five years old
girl, Charlotte Figi, who has Dravet’s Syndrome, with medical marijuana strain high
in cannabidiol and low in THC.
During the research for his documentary “WEED”, Gupta interviewed the Figi family,
and according to the film, the drug decreased her seizures from 300 a week to just
one every seven days. Forty other children are using the same medication, and it has
helped them too.
The doctors who are recommending this medication say that the cannabidiol in the
plant interacts with the brain cells to quiet the excessive activities in the brain that
causes the seizures.
10. Lessen side effects from treating Hepatitis C, and increase treatment
effectiveness
Treating Hepatitis C infection has severe side effects, so severe that many people
are unable to continue their treatment. Side effects range from fatigue, nausea,
muscle pains, loss of appetite, and depression- and they last for months.
A 2006 study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
discovered that 86% of patients using marijuana successfully finished their therapies,
while only 29% of the non-smokers completed their treatments, maybe because
marijuana helps to lessen the treatments’ side effects.
Cannabis also helps to improve the treatment’s effectiveness. 54% of the Hep C
patients smoking marijuana got their viral levels low, and kept them low, compared
to the only 8% of the non-smokers.
11. Decrease anxiety
In 2010, researchers at Harvard University suggested that another of the drug’s
benefits may actually be reduced anxiety, which would improve the smoker’s mood
and act as a sedative in low doses.
Beware, though, higher doses may increase anxiety and make the smoker paranoid.
12. Help reverse the carcinogen effects of tobacco, and improve lung health
In January 2012, a study published in Journal of the American Medical Association
showed that marijuana improved lung functions, and even increased lung capacity.
Researchers looking for risks factors of heart disease, tested on 5,115 young adults,
over the period of 20 years, and found out that only pot users showed an increase in
lung capacity, compared to the tobacco smokers who lost lung function over time.
It is believed that the increased lung capacity is due to the deep breaths taken while
inhaling the drug, and not from a therapeutic chemical in the drug.
13. Reduce severe pain, and nausea from chemo, and stimulates appetite.
One of the most common uses of medical marijuana is for people going through
chemotherapy. Cancer patients going through chemo suffer from severe pains,
painful nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. This can lead to further health
complications.
Marijuana can help reduce these side effects, reducing pain, decreasing nausea, and
stirring up the appetite. Also, there are other FDA approved cannabinoid drugs that
use THC, for the same purposes.
14. Improve symptoms of Lupus, an autoimmune disorder.
Medical marijuana is used to treat the autoimmune disorder called Systemic Lupus
Ertyhematosus, which is when the body starts attacking itself for unknown reasons.
It is believed that some chemicals present in cannabis is responsible to calm the
immune system, which maybe the reason to help deal with symptoms of Lupus. The
rest of the positive impact of the marijuana is probably from the effects of the pain
and nausea.
15. Protect brain after a stroke.
Research (done on rats, mice, and monkeys) from University of Nottingham shows
that cannabis may help protect the brain from damage caused by a stroke by reducing
the size of the area affected by the stroke.
This isn’t the only research that has shown neuroprotective effects from cannabis.
Some research shows that the plant may help protect the brain after other traumatic
events like concussions.
16. Help veterans suffering from PTSD.
Marijuana is approved to treat PTSD in some states in America.[8] In New Mexico,
PTSD is the number one reason for people to get a license for medical marijuana,
but this is the first time U.S. Government’s The Department of Health and Human
Services has approved a proposal that incorporates smoked or vaporized marijuana.
Naturally occurring cannabinoids, similar to THC, help control the system that causes
fear and anxiety in the body and brain.
17. Control other types of muscle spasms
Other types of muscle spasms respond to marijuana too.
Dr. Gupta’s patient, Chaz, has a condition called myoclonus diaphragmatic flutter
(also known as Leeuwenhoek’s Disease).[9] This causes non stop spasming in the
abdominal muscles which are not only painful, but interfere with breathing and
speaking.
Chaz has been using medical marijuana to treat this disease because other very
strong medications were unable to treat him properly.
Smoking marijuana is able to calm to calm the attacks almost immediately, relaxing
the muscles of the diaphragm also.
18. Treat inflammatory bowel diseases
Just like Crohn’s disease, patients with other inflammatory bowel diseases like
ulcerative colitis could benefit from marijuana use, studies suggest.
In 2010, University of Nottingham researchers have found that chemicals in
marijuana, including THC, and cannabidiol, interact with cells in the body that play an
important role in gut function, and immune system.
THC like chemicals made by the body increase the permeability of the intestines,
allowing bacteria in. The plant-derived cannabinoids in marijuana block these body-
cannabinoids, stopping this permeability, and making the intestinal bond tighter
together.
19. Help eliminate nightmares
This is a bit complicated because it involves both positive and negative effects.
Marijuana may disturb the sleep cycle by interrupting the later stages of REM sleep.
However, people who suffer from serious nightmares, especially patients with PTSD,
this can be helpful. Nightmares and other dreams occur during those same stages of
sleep.
By interrupting REM sleep, many of those dreams may not occur. Research using a
synthetic cannabinoid, like THC, showed a decrease in the number of nightmares in
patients with PTSD.
Marijuana maybe a better sleep aid than some other medications or even alcohol
because the latter two may potentially have worse effects on sleep, though more
research is needed on the topic.
20. Protect the brain from concussion and trauma
A recent study in the journal Cerebral Cortex showed possibilities that marijuana can
help heal the brain after a concussion, or other traumatic injury.
In the journal it was said that the experiments were done on mice, and that marijuana
lessened the bruising of the brain, and helped with healing mechanisms after a
traumatic injury.[12]

Countries that legalized Marijuana Use for Medicinal

Purposes
Marijuana has been used for thousands of years, primarily for treating medical
conditions. It was used in ancient China as an anesthetic. It was one of five herbs
taken to help relieve anxiety during India's Iron Age. Cannabis seeds have been
found in Viking ships, possibly for use in alleviating pain.
And for most of human history, marijuana use was legal. That began to change in the
early 20th century, though. Between 1916 and 1931, 29 U.S. states banned the use
of marijuana. The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 essentially made cannabis illegal
across the U.S. Many other countries outlawed marijuana during the first half of the
century, with more nations added to the list in subsequent decades.
But the tide is turning. Several countries and many U.S. states have legalized the use
and sale of medical marijuana. A couple of countries and a growing number of U.S.
states allow the use and sale of recreational marijuana. Where is marijuana legal
now?

Country Medical Marijuana Legal? Recreational Marijuana Legal?

Canada Yes Yes

Uruguay Yes Yes

Argentina Yes No

Australia Yes No

Chile Yes No

Colombia Yes No

Croatia Yes No

Yes (for cancer patients

Cyprus No
only)

Czech Republic Yes No

 Country Medical Marijuana Legal? Recreational Marijuana Legal?

Denmark Yes No

Finland Yes No

Germany Yes No

Greece Yes No

Israel Yes No

Italy Yes No

Jamaica Yes No

Luxembourg Yes No

Macedonia Yes No

Malta Yes No

Yes (with THC content <

Mexico No
1%)

Netherlands Yes No

Norway Yes No

Peru Yes No

Poland Yes No

Portugal Yes No

San Marino Yes No

South Korea Yes No

Sri Lanka Yes No

Switzerland Yes No

United Kingdom Yes No

Zimbabwe Yes No
Canada claims the largest overall market where marijuana use of any kind is legal at
the federal level. Medical cannabis has been legal in the country since 2001, although
initially patients had to grow their own marijuana plants. New regulations in 2013,
subsequently replaced in 2016, opened the door for licensed producers to supply
medical marijuana to patients across the country.
Justin Trudeau ran for the office of prime minister in 2015. He pledged to legalize
recreational marijuana if elected. Trudeau won the election -- and began working to
advance legislation through the Canadian parliament to fulfill his campaign promise.
Those efforts succeeded, with the Canadian senate voting a final time to legalize
recreational marijuana on June 19, 2018. Under the Cannabis Act (also known as bill
C-45), recreational marijuana became available for purchase by adults on Oct. 17,
2018.
The Canadian marijuana market in 2017 totaled around $600,000. Arcview Market
Research and BDS Analytics project this figure will soar to $5.5 billion by 2022.
However, Germany is likely to become the top international market for medical
marijuana where use is legal at the federal level. The country's medical marijuana
market is expected to increase to $1.6 billion by 2022 from around $260 million in
2018. Germany claims the largest population in the European Union, and its laws
make medical cannabis easily available, which makes rapid growth for the German
medical market likely.

Current status of legalization in the U.S.

Both medical and recreational marijuana use remain illegal at the federal level in the
U.S. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 placed cannabis in the most restricted
category, Schedule I, which includes drugs that the U.S. government deemed had no
accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
But individual states began to push back against federal marijuana policy, beginning
with a ballot initiative in California, passed in 1996, that legalized medical marijuana
in the state. Other states soon followed California's lead. In 2012, Colorado and
Washington state approved ballot initiatives that legalized recreational marijuana.
Following are the U.S. states, districts, and territories that have broadly legalized
either medical marijuana or recreational marijuana as of Nov. 30, 2018:

State/District/Territory Medical Marijuana Legal? Recreational Marijuana Legal?

Alaska Yes Yes

California Yes Yes

Colorado Yes Yes

District of Columbia Yes Yes

Maine Yes Yes

Massachusetts Yes Yes

State/District/Territory Medical Marijuana Legal? Recreational Marijuana Legal?

Michigan Yes Yes

Nevada Yes Yes

Oregon Yes Yes

Vermont Yes Yes

Washington Yes Yes

Arizona Yes No

Arkansas Yes No

Connecticut Yes No

Delaware Yes No

Florida Yes No

Guam Yes No

Hawaii Yes No

Illinois Yes No

Louisiana Yes No

Maryland Yes No

Minnesota Yes No

Missouri Yes No

Montana Yes No

New Hampshire Yes No

New Jersey Yes No

New Mexico Yes No

New York Yes No

North Dakota Yes No

 State/District/Territory Medical Marijuana Legal? Recreational Marijuana Legal?

Ohio Yes No

Oklahoma Yes No

Pennsylvania Yes No

Puerto Rico Yes No

Rhode Island Yes No

Utah Yes No

West Virginia Yes No

This list changed as a result of the November 2018 U.S. elections. Residents of
Michigan voted to legalize recreational marijuana, while Missouri and Utah citizens
voted to legalize medical marijuana. The only setback for marijuana legalization was
in North Dakota, where a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana was
defeated.
California is by far the largest marijuana market in the U.S. -- and in the world. The
state's marijuana sales were close to $3 billion in 2017. The state's total marijuana
market is projected to soar to $7.7 billion by 2022.
Of the U.S. states where only medical marijuana is legal, Michigan currently ranks as
the largest market, with estimated 2017 sales of $811 million. However, Florida could
be on track to jump past Michigan within the next four years, with estimated medical
marijuana sales of more than $1.7 billion.
In addition, 15 other states have cannabidiol (CBD) laws that permit the legal use of
the nonpsychoactive cannabis component for medical purposes. Several of these
states also allow the use of medical marijuana with low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), the primary psychoactive component in cannabis. Four states -- Idaho,
Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota -- have no statutes permitting the legal use of
marijuana.
Sen. Cory Gardner (R.-Colo) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D.-Mass.) are promoting
bipartisan legislation that would result in the U.S. federal government's recognizing
state laws that have legalized either medical or recreational marijuana. Both Gardner
and Warren represent states that have legalized both medical and recreational
marijuana. In April, President Trump signaled his support for Sen. Gardner's effort to
keep the federal government out of the way of states that have legalized marijuana.
The bill introduced by Sen. Gardner and Sen. Warren has not been brought up for a
vote in the full Senate yet, though.

Dynamics behind the push to legalize marijuana

Even before significant efforts began to legalize marijuana, several countries and
U.S. states moved to decriminalize the drug through the relaxation of criminal
penalties associated with personal marijuana use. In 1973, Oregon became the first
U.S. state to decriminalize marijuana, establishing a relatively low fine of $100 for
possession of up to one ounce of the drug.
The biggest factor behind the push to legalize marijuana has been growing public
support for legalization. A survey conducted by the Center for American Progress
(CAP) and GBA Strategies in June 2018 found that 68% of respondents supported
legalizing marijuana -- a record high level. Of those in favor of legalization, 40%
indicated that they "strongly support" marijuana's being legalized.
Some might question a survey sponsored by CAP because of its left-leaning political
views. However, other surveys have also indicated increasing levels of support
among Americans for marijuana legalization.
For example, results announced in October 2018 from a Pew Research Center
survey found that 62% of Americans think that marijuana should be legalized. That
level of support is nearly double the 31% of respondents favoring legalization in 2000.
One major reason marijuana legalization has picked up overall support among U.S.
citizens is that millennials are heavily in favor of legalization. Millennials are expected
to overtake baby boomers as the largest living adult generation in 2019. The Pew
Research Center survey reported that an overwhelming majority -- 74% -- of
millennials support legalization of marijuana. However, majorities of all other
generation groups except the Silent Generation -- Americans born between 1925 and
1945 -- also support the legalization of marijuana.
But why has public opinion shifted toward support for marijuana legalization? A CBS
News poll taken in April found that only 9% of Americans felt that marijuana was more
dangerous than alcohol. Slightly more than half of Americans think that alcohol is
more dangerous than marijuana.
There are also more reasons now for people to believe that the use of marijuana can
be beneficial for some medical conditions. A report released by the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 2017 found "conclusive or
substantial" evidence for marijuana's efficacy in treating chronic pain, chemotherapy-
induced nausea and vomiting, and multiple sclerosis spasticity. In addition, the report
cited moderate evidence supporting the efficacy of cannabis in treating short-term
sleep issues, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis.
The most important wins for medical marijuana came in 2018. In June the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CBD drug Epidiolex for treating Dravet
syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), both of which are rare forms of
childhood-onset epilepsy. In September the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) classified Epidiolex as a Schedule V drug -- the least restrictive category
available.

Impact following marijuana legalization

In Uruguay, which legalized recreational marijuana in 2017, illegal drug trafficking of
marijuana has plummeted. Cannabis hasn't become a huge industry in the South
American country yet, however. This is due in large part to banks pressuring
pharmacies in Uruguay not to sell marijuana.
Canada's legalization of medical and recreational marijuana created a rapidly
expanding industry. The country's top licensed producers sport multibillion-dollar
market caps and have attracted attention from major companies outside of the
cannabis industry.
The U.S. states that were among the first to legalize recreational marijuana probably
provide the best information about the impact of legalization. Colorado's total
marijuana sales topped $1.5 billion in 2017 and more than $1 billion as of August
2018. Since 2014 the state has collected more than $840 million in tax revenue from
marijuana sales.
Washington saw sales of legal marijuana totaling $1.3 billion in its fiscal year 2017,
which ended on June 30, 2017. The state collected $319 million of that amount in
taxes and license fees. Half of the total collected revenue went to help fund the state's
Basic Health Plan Trust Account, which provides healthcare services to those in the
state who lack coverage. Another 31% of the total went to the state's general fund,
with the remaining amount distributed among substance abuse programs and other
public services.
Studies have also indicated that opioid use is lower in states that have legalized
medical marijuana than in states that haven't. Data from Medicare's drug database
showed a 14% reduction in opioid prescriptions in states with laws allowing relatively
easy access to medical marijuana than in other states. It should be noted, however,
that this analysis showed only a correlation between lower opioid use and states'
medical marijuana policies, not firm grounds for concluding that the medical
marijuana access caused the lower opioid use.
Marijuana-related arrests have generally fallen in states with legal recreational
marijuana. Concerns about legalized marijuana's effect on such problems as teen
marijuana use and traffic fatalities have so far not been borne out, with rates
remaining relatively steady in states that have legalized recreational marijuana.
On the other hand, some negative impacts have followed marijuana legalization.
There have been more traffic-related insurance claims in states that have legalized
recreational marijuana. And in Colorado, overall crime rates have gone up since
recreational marijuana legalization, while the trend has been downward for the U.S.
as a whole. However, it's not certain whether Colorado's increasing crime rate is a
result of marijuana legalization or other factors.

Stand of House Bill 6517

(also known as the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act)

Marijuana is legal in some countries. In the Philippines, as the law stands today,
marijuana is illegal. It is a dangerous drug and the selling/use of marijuana is a
criminal offense. Soon it would be completely legal to use marijuana in the
Philippines. That is, if Congress passes a proposed bill and President Benigno
Aquino signs it into law.
In September of 2017, the House of Representatives Committee on Health approved
a bill that would legalize and regulate the use of medical marijuana in the Philippines.
This is a huge step forward, as cannabis has been a prohibited substance since the
2002 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act was enacted.
Although Bill 180, or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, still has a
long way to go, this is incredible news for patients in the Philippines who would find
relief from pain and discomfort with medical weed.
 The Compassionate Medical Cannabis Program in the Philippines
The Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act would by no means permit the
recreational use of medical marijuana. Even the bill’s most ardent defender and
author, Representative Rodolfo T. Albano III, ensures they’re not attempting to
decriminalize cannabis.
The Republic of the Philippines Department of Health would oversee the program.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has lent his voice of support to the bill and
confirmed the DOH would work closely with lawmakers to fine-tune it. They would
ensure there are strict guidelines so medical marijuana would not be prone to abuse.
The Food and Drug Administration would also be responsible for quality-control for
all medical marijuana medications. They would enforce the highest quality control
standards to ensure all cannabis products are safe and effective before they become
available to patients.
 Once the bill is passed, two types of entities would be created:
Medical Cannabis Compassion Centers (MCCC): Monitored and established by the
DOH, these will be facilities where patients can obtain cannabis medications.
Medical Cannabis Research and Safety Compliance Facilities (MCSCF): These
locations would be authorized by the DOH for the purpose of medical research on
cannabis products.
The proposed bill would not allow patients to smoke or vaporize cannabis flower.
However, they would have access to other forms, such as cannabis oil extracts,
tinctures, suppositories, capsules and pills, sprays and topicals.
 Cultivation and Possession of Medical Marijuana in the Philippines
Only Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers and Medical Cannabis Research
and Safety Compliance Facilities licensed by the DOH will be authorized to cultivate
medical marijuana — and only MCCCs can distribute cannabis medications to
patients. If the new law passes, only these facilities, medical marijuana patients and
caregivers will be exempt from civil and criminal liability.
 Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in the Philippines
Thus far, only a set number of conditions are included in the Philippine
Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act to qualify patients for medical marijuana
treatments. However, other conditions may be added later as determined by the DOH
and a panel of physicians.
The debilitating conditions included in the bill are:
 Cancer
 Glaucoma
 Multiple sclerosis
 Spinal cord damage or intractable spasticity
 HIV or AIDS
 Admission to hospice care
 PTSD
 Rheumatoid arthritis or other chronic autoimmune inflammatory
disorders

 How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in the Philippines

Since the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act hasn’t passed yet,
patients can’t get medical marijuana cards yet. However, lawmakers are hoping to
pass this bill into law soon. When that happens, patients can apply to the Department
of Health. They must:
 Meet with a doctor certified by the DOH to recommend the use of
medical cannabis.
 Establish a bona fide relationship with their certifying physician.
 Receive a diagnosis from that doctor for a qualifying debilitating
condition.
 Fill out an application to the DOH with all needed documentation.
If approved, they’ll receive an identification card issued by the secretary of the
Department of Health.
 Marijuana Penalties in the Philippines
Because marijuana isn’t legalized yet in the Philippines, the penalty for possession
has some serious consequences depending on the amount you are carrying:
 Ten Grams or More: The penalty ranges from life in prison to the
death penalty and a fine ranging from 500,000 to ten million
Philippine pesos
 Between Five and Ten Grams: Ranges from 20 years to life in prison
and a fine ranging from 400,000 to 500,000 pesos
 Less Than Five Grams: Twelve to 20 years in prison and a fine
ranging from 300,000 to 400,000 pesos
 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Equipment: Six months to
four years in prison and a fine ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 pesos
 Once the bill is passed and the Compassionate Medical Cannabis
Act is enacted, medical marijuana patients registered with the DOH
will be exempt from criminal penalties as long as they follow the
guidelines of the law.

Update on House Bill 6517

The House of Representatives thinks it is high time for the Philippines to legalize and
regulate the medical use of cannabis or marijuana.
Voting 163-5-3, legislators approved on 3rd and final reading House Bill 6517 or the
Act Providing Compassionate and Right of Access to Medical Cannabis and
Expanding Research into its Medicinal Properties and for Other Purposes on January
29, 2019.
The bill would make it legal to use marijuana to benefit patients suffering from
debilitating medical conditions.
HB 6517 defines this as any disease causing wasting syndrome, severe and chronic
pain, severe nausea, seizures including those characteristic of epilepsy, or severe
and persistent muscle spasms.
The passage of the medical marijuana bill at the House is not surprising, as Speaker
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself backs it. Arroyo admitted that she uses marijuana
patches to ease pain whenever she visits a country where medical cannabis is legal.
(READ: Legalizing medical marijuana: 'Listen to patients’)
The former president-turned-Pampanga 2nd District representative suffers from
multiple cervical spondylosis or the degeneration of the intervertebral discs, causing
pain in the spine.
Now is a good time for Filipinos to finally arrive at a sound collective understanding
of marijuana as a gift from the plant world.
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III previously said using
medical marijuana for research purposes is already allowed by the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The law classifies marijuana as a dangerous drug, but Section 16 allows medical
laboratories and medical research centers to cultivate marijuana, opium poppy, as
well as similar plants and materials "for medical experiences and research purposes."
The Dangerous Drugs Board, however, must prescribe the implementing guidelines
for the proper cultivation, culture, handling, experimentation, and disposal of these
plants and materials.
What are the bill's highlights? Under HB 6517, a patient would be qualified to use
medical marijuana if he or she is diagnosed as having a debilitating disease and who,
upon the doctor's evaluation, should receive "therapeutic or palliative benefits" from
the medical use of cannabis.
The qualified patient would have the right to choose the type of medicine and health
care services that he or she would receive to alleviate the medical condition.
HB 6517 would create medical cannabis compassionate centers, which would be
tasked to acquire, possess, deliver, transfer, transport, sell, supply, and dispense
marijuana to qualified patients.
A medical cannabis research and safety compliance facility would also be established
to conduct scientific and medical research on the medical use of marijuana.
Both of these centers would be under the jurisdiction of the DOH, which would be the
principal regulatory agency for medical marijuana use.
The DOH would also be tasked to create an advisory committee on the medical use
of cannabis, tasked to implement the provisions under HB 6517.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, meanwhile, would be in charge of
monitoring and regulating the use of medical cannabis in health facilities. –
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to this matter is not giving an inch of advantage to the
narco-politicians who bid to legalize marijuana, irrespective of whether or not these
politicians are included in the narco-list of the president.
His stand can be traced back to 2017 and even supported by his statement on
December 2018 when jokingly admitted that he used to dope to stay awake during
strenuous activities. Last March 2019, he pronounced a sharp turn of disapproval to
House Bill 6517.
 Chapter 2

Statement of the Problem

Medicinal Marijuana should be legalized in the Philippines.

Legality of Marijuana Use
Cannabis has been illegal in the Philippines since 1972 by virtue of Republic Act No.
6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. RA6425 classified marijuana as a
prohibited drug, and detailed out punishments for the importation, sale, manufacture,
cultivation, possession, and use of the drug, as well as possession of any drug-
related paraphernalia. RA6425 also created the Dangerous Drugs Board, giving it
jurisdiction over drug-related cases. In 2002, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002 was signed, repealing RA6425. RA9165 also enabled the creation of the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, which handles the implementation and
enforcement of policies and strategies made by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Under the current law, the importation, sale, maintenance of a den, dive or resort,
manufacture, use, and cultivation of marijuana and marijuana-related products shall
be met with life imprisonment and a fine.
While cannabis remains widely illegal including medical use, individuals with serious
or terminal illness may apply for special permit from Food and Drugs Authority for
drugs unregistered in the Philippines including those containing cannabis. Since
issuance of permits began in 1992, only one application has been filed to seek
consent to use cannabis oil as of December 2018.

Medical Cannabis implementation

The push to allow Filipinos access to medical cannabis has been going on for about
five years now.
Starting with HB 4477 (2014), and substituting HB 180 (2016), House Bill 6517’s
(2017), the long journey has been about providing “compassionate and right of
access to medical cannabis and expanding research into its medicinal properties.”
The principal author of the medical cannabis bills is Isabela 1st District
Representative Rodolfo Albano III.
To provide some clarity and encourage proper discourse, laid out below are HB
5617’s main purposes:
Establish Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers (MCCC) in coordination with
PDEA, which will be “registered with the Department of Health (DOH) and licensed
to acquire, possess, cultivate, manufacture, deliver, transfer, transport, sell, supply,
and dispense cannabis, devises or related supplies and education materials to
registered qualifying patients.”
NOTE: Medical cannabis will ONLY be available through MCCC dispensaries.
Create “medical cannabis safety compliance facilities (MCSCF), “registered with the
DOH that conduct scientific and medical research on medical use of cannabis and
provide testing services for its potency and contaminants relative to its safe and
efficient use, cultivation, harvesting, packaging, labelling, distribution and proper
security.”
NOTE: MCCCs or MCSCFs will not be allowed within 1,000 feet of schools,
colleges, universities, or residential areas.
The FDA will test all medical cannabis in terms of “potency, consistency, safe, and
effective use,” before dispensing them to patients. “It shall ensure that all medical
cannabis are organic, pesticide-free, gluten-free, and safe for use.”
Medical cannabis patients are prohibited to possess, smoke or use cannabis for
purposes other than treating their “debilitating medical condition”.
According to a Congress’ press release dated January 30 , “[medical cannabis] will
complement conventional health care and shall be the medicine of last resort as
certified by registered qualified medical cannabis physicians to patients if and when
standard medical treatment options are deemed ineffective based on the indications
and criteria determined by the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”
Medical Cannabis Physicians, Pharmacists, and Caregivers will undergo appropriate
training program under the DOH.
The DOH will be responsible for effectively implementing the necessary rules and
regulations ninety (90) days after the bill is passed into law.

Medical cannabis in the Philippines today

Currently, the country allows for “Compassionate Special Permits” (CSPs) with
medical marijuana, one of the main points that opposing parties like Senator Vicente
“Tito” Sotto III use to argue against the bill.
However, the CSP process for medical cannabis can be quite tedious. According to
the Philippine FDA, they have only received three applications for cannabis oil use
from 2017 to 2018, which were all turned down because of incomplete requirements.
Atty. Katherine Austria-Lock, Head of Center for Drugs Regulation and Research,
shared how the CSP process works, via ABS-CBN news: “These drugs must be
registered from the country of origin. The request must be specific. For example, if
40 tablets are needed, that must be included in the prescription. CSP patients usually
have tie-up canna oil providers that will import it to them.”
HB 6517 aims to make cannabis oil and other types of cannabis medicine available
and regulated within the country, for easier access to people who need it most. It will
also open more opportunities for proper research and education, removing most of
the stigma and fears associated with the plant.
Pending at the House of Representatives is House Bill No. 4477 (full text attached
on the Statement of the paper), proposing a law to be known as the Compassionate
Use of Medical Cannabis Act, regulating the medical use of cannabis and
establishing for the purpose the Medical Cannabis Regulatory Authority.
According to the principal author of the bill, Rep. Rodolfo T. Albano III, cannabis has
“many currently accepted medical uses” and foreign states “have enacted medical
cannabis laws that remove criminal sanctions for the medical use of cannabis.” There
surely are pros and cons of decriminalizing the medical use of marijuana. One of the
arguments against regulating marijuana is precisely that — regulation.
 Chapter 3

Question:

Why should medicinal marijuana be legalized?

Marijuana, a.k.a cannabis, pot, weed, hemp, or reefer, has been a topic of heated
debates for many years, but now, it is in the spotlight more than ever. The issue about
the use of this drug is becoming more and more topical because people are debating
whether or not to legalize it. Marijuana, as well all know, is the most commonly used
drug in the world. In fact, around 3.8 percent of the world’s population or 158.8 million
people around the world use marijuana, according to United Nations. And the number
is continuously rising.
It is said that this drug can help cure diseases, including cancer, glaucoma, and AIDS.
Other people claim that it is a great stress reliever and a useful medicine for pain.
Even doctors prescribed this drug to people who have problems in sleeping and
eating.
but here in the Philippines marijuana is still not legalize. Many said that people will
abuse it and that's the reason why marijuana is still not legalize. Here are the powerful
reasons why we should legalize marijuana
The truth is marijuana is not a harmful drug. Although the use of it can have negative
effects on physical and mental health, if used well, it benefits the user. And when it
comes to relative risks and harm, marijuana is proven to be far less harmful than
other products, particularly alcohol and tobacco.
Even though 23 states have legalized cannabis medically, physicians still don’t have
national guidelines on how to prescribe it. High Times, a magazine publication
advocating the legalization of cannabis, recently quoted Dr. Jean Antonucci who told
CNN that she still feels “completely in the dark” about medical marijuana treatment,
dose, and whether a patient should smoke, eat, or vaporize it. Most physicians have
never been trained to prescribe marijuana and it is still not covered in medical
schools. Only some states are beginning to require doctors to take additional medical
courses on medical marijuana.
Marijuana doesn’t only benefit the body, but the economy as well. Just like medicines
and other goods, legalization of marijuana can substantially rake huge amount of
profits, which we badly need in these economic times. In the first six months of 2014,
Colorado alone has pulled in more than $25 million dollar pot-related tax revenue,
and the state expects the value to triple in the middle of 2015. Just think about how
much money the country will make if the entire U.S. legalized the use of cannabis?
According to the latest analysis by the NerdWallet, if all 50 states legalized marijuana
today, the country could gain over $3 billion in tax revenue. This very large potential
profit can be extremely helpful in our entire nation. It can used to better education,
improve healthcare, develop the justice system, help the poor, pay off country’s debt,
and fortify unfunded government programs. And remember that besides sales tax,
several other revenues can also be generated when marijuana is legalized. Once
legal, states and cities can impose other fees, such as licenses and annual fees, on
consumers and retailers.
In addition to bringing in funds, legalization of marijuana gives the country an
opportunity to save billions of dollars per year. According to Harvard economist
Jeffrey Miron, a whopping $8.7 billion a year is being spent for enforcing laws against
marijuana in the U.S. And what are we getting for the billions of dollars spent in
stopping cannabis use? Nada. Nothing.
Despite being illegal, thousands or more individuals are still arrested every day for
possessing and using marijuana. And that results not only to wasted resources, but
also to wasted time and lives. Our law enforcement officials devote their thousands
of hours to arresting, booking, and imprisoning cannabis users. And since there are
millions of marijuana users in the U.S., our jails and prisons are filled easily, which
results to the need of more money to building new and larger jails. This is not to
mention the amount that we spend in prosecuting, feeding, and defending these
offenders. And the sad thing is that being arrested doesn’t stop the users from
smoking pot.
Continuing the arrest of these people is irrational. The $8.7 billion estimate is a
serious amount, which can be used to fund more important public programs and help
our courts resolve much more serious cases.
In addition, cannabis itself has an ability to clean up toxins underground, which is
known as phytomediation, making the soil a lot healthier and useful for farming. And
as we already know, the fiber that comes from this plant can be used to produce
paper products, including cardboard, envelopes, and computer paper, which helps
us eliminate the need to chop down trees in the forest. Furthermore, the cannabis
plant can also be substituted for cotton in the production of textile. Cannabis produces
stronger and twice more fiber than cotton, which can be used to make all types of
clothing. Cotton, as well know, requires an enormous amount of pesticides to grow.
If we use cannabis as a substitute for cotton, we will significantly reduce the usage
of harmful chemicals.
 Chapter 4

Thesis

Medicinal marijuana should be legalized in the Philippines because

positive results of using it are beneficial and widely recognized in
medicines.

Medical Marijuana when used properly and not abused can show to have positive
affects for people with chronic pain, people with seizures, help people that have
trouble eating or reduce of vomiting, it also helps with patients that have anxiety or
have shown feelings of depression. Marijuana has also shown that it stops the growth
of cancer cells. Now that we’ve seen how marijuana has shown to have positive
effects it’s time for the Philippines to make Marijuana legal.
 Chapter 5

Claims
Counter arguments
- It can be a getaway drug.
Some research suggests that marijuana use is likely to precede use of other licit and
illicit substances46 and the development of addiction to other substances. Marijuana
use is also linked to other substance use disorders including nicotine addiction.
Early exposure to cannabinoids in adolescent rodents decreases the reactivity of
brain dopamine reward centers later in adulthood.48 To the extent that these findings
generalize to humans, this could help explain the increased vulnerability for addiction
to other substances of misuse later in life that most epidemiological studies have
reported for people who begin marijuana use early in life.
These findings are consistent with the idea of marijuana as a "gateway drug."
However, the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other,
"harder" substances. Also, cross-sensitization is not unique to marijuana. Alcohol and
nicotine also prime the brain for a heightened response to other drugs and are, like
marijuana, also typically used before a person progresses to other, more harmful
substances.
It is important to note that other factors besides biological mechanisms, such as a
person’s social environment, are also critical in a person’s risk for drug use. An
alternative to the gateway-drug hypothesis is that people who are more vulnerable to
drug-taking are simply more likely to start with readily available substances such as
marijuana, tobacco, or alcohol, and their subsequent social interactions with others
who use drugs increases their chances of trying other drugs.
- Pessimism on the legalization of marijuana use.
Contrary to the beliefs of those who advocate the legalization of marijuana, the
current balanced, restrictive, and bipartisan drug policies of the United States are
working reasonably well and they have contributed to reductions in the rate of
marijuana use in our nation.
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the U.S. and around the world.
Those who support its legalization, for medical or for general use, fail to recognize
that the greatest costs of marijuana are not related to its prohibition; they are the
costs resulting from marijuana use itself.
There is a common misconception that the principle costs of marijuana use are those
related to the criminal justice system. This is a false premise. Caulkins & Sevigny
(2005) found that the percentage of people in prison for marijuana use is less than
one half of one percent (0.1-0.2 percent).
An encounter with the criminal justice system through apprehension for a drug-
related crime frequently can benefit the offender because the criminal justice system
is often a path to treatment.
Marijuana was an identified drug of abuse for 57 percent of the individuals referred
to treatment from the criminal justice system. The future of drug policy is not a choice
between using the criminal justice system or treatment. The more appropriate goal is
to get these two systems to work together more effectively to improve both public
safety and public health.
In the discussion of legalizing marijuana, a useful analogy can be made to gambling.
MacCoun & Reuter (2001) conclude that making the government a beneficiary of
legal gambling has encouraged the government to promote gambling, overlooking it
as a problem behavior. They point out that “the moral debasement of state
government is a phenomenon that only a few academics and preachers bemoan.”

Legalized gambling has not reduced illegal gambling in the United States; rather, it
has increased it. This is particularly evident in sports gambling, most of which is
illegal. Legal gambling is taxed and regulated and illegal gambling is not. Legal
gambling sets the stage for illegal gambling just the way legal marijuana would set
the stage for illegal marijuana trafficking.
The gambling precedent suggests strongly that illegal drug suppliers would thrive by
selling more potent marijuana products outside of the legal channels that would be
taxed and otherwise restricted. If marijuana were legalized, the only way to eliminate
its illegal trade, which is modest in comparison to that of cocaine, would be to sell
marijuana untaxed and unregulated to any willing buyer.
Marijuana is currently the leading cause of substance dependence other than alcohol
in the U.S. In 2008, marijuana use accounted for 4.2 million of the 7 million people
aged 12 or older classified with dependence on or abuse of an illicit drug. This means
that about two thirds of Americans suffering from any substance use disorder are
suffering from marijuana abuse or marijuana dependence.
If the U.S. were to legalize marijuana, the number of marijuana users would increase.
Today there are 15.2 million current marijuana users in comparison to 129 million
alcohol users and 70.9 million tobacco users. Though the number of marijuana users
might not quickly climb to the current numbers for alcohol and tobacco, if marijuana
was legalized, the increase in users would be both large and rapid with subsequent
increases in addiction.
Important lessons can be learned from those two widely-used legal drugs. While both
alcohol and tobacco are taxed and regulated, the tax benefits to the public are vastly
overshadowed by the adverse consequences of their use.
Alcohol-related costs total over $185 billion while federal and states collected an
estimated $14.5 billion in tax revenue; similarly, tobacco use costs over $200 billion
but only $25 billion is collected in taxes. These figures show that the costs of legal
alcohol are more than 12 times the total tax revenue collected, and that the costs of
legal tobacco are about 8 times the tax revenue collected. This is an economically
disastrous tradeoff.
The costs of legalizing marijuana would not only be financial. New marijuana users
would not be limited to adults if marijuana were legalized, just as regulations on
alcohol and tobacco do not prevent use by youth. Rapidly accumulating new research
shows that marijuana use is associated with increases in a range of serious mental
and physical problems. Lack of public understanding on this relationship is
undermining prevention efforts and adversely affecting the nation’s youth and their
families.
Drug-impaired driving will also increase if marijuana is legalized. Marijuana is already
a significant causal factor in highway crashes, injuries and deaths. In a recent national
roadside survey of weekend nighttime drivers, 8.6 percent tested positive for
marijuana or its metabolites, nearly four times the percentage of drivers with a blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL (2.2 percent).
In another study of seriously injured drivers admitted to a Level-1 shock trauma
center, more than a quarter of all drivers (26.9 percent) tested positive for marijuana.
In a study of fatally injured drivers in Washington State, 12.7 percent tested positive
for marijuana. These studies demonstrate the high prevalence of drugged driving as
a result of marijuana use.
Many people who want to legalize marijuana are passionate about their perception
of the alleged failures of policies aimed at reducing marijuana use but those
legalization proponents seldom—if ever—describe their own plan for taxing and
regulating marijuana as a legal drug. There is a reason for this imbalance; they cannot
come up with a credible plan for legalization that could deliver on their exaggerated
claims for this new policy.
Future drug policies must be smarter and more effective in curbing the demand for
illegal drugs including marijuana. Smarter-drug prevention policies should start by
reducing illegal drug use among the 5 million criminal offenders who are on parole
and probation in the U.S. They are among the nation’s heaviest and most problem-
generating illegal drug users.
Monitoring programs that are linked to swift and certain, but not severe,
consequences for any drug use have demonstrated outstanding results including
lower recidivism and lower rates of incarceration. New policies to curb drugged
driving will not only make our roads and highways safer and provide an important
new path to treatment, but they will also reduce illegal drug use.
Reducing marijuana use is essential to improving the nation’s health, education, and
productivity. New policies can greatly improve current performance of prevention
strategies which, far from failing, has protected millions of people from the many
adverse effects of marijuana use.
Since legalization of marijuana for medical or general use would increase marijuana
use rather than reduce it and would lead to increased rates of addiction to marijuana
among youth and adults, legalizing marijuana is not a smart public health or public
safety strategy for any state or for our nation.
 Chapter 6

Survey
 Chapter 7

Celebrities Supporting HB 6517

1. Catriona Gray
The former Miss Universe was actually asked about her opinion of the legalization of
marijuana during the pagent itself. Her reply?
“I’m for the use (of marijuana) in the medical use but not so for recreational use
because I think if people were to argue what about alcohol and cigarettes, well,
everything is good but in moderation.”

2. Rafael Rosell
The actor and model’s mother was cured of her stage 4b thyroid cancer a few years
back and he saw the relief that being able to use medical cannabis brought to her.
He was at the House of Representatives on the third and final reading of HB 5617,
and provided an educational live feed on its benefits.

3. Angel Aquino
The veteran actress, who recently became even more popular by her role in Glorious,
has always been an advocate of medical marijuana.
She has long advocated for the legalization of medical cannabis because it “worked
wonders” for her 22-year-old daughter who has epilepsy.

4. Brandon Vera
A Filipino American mixed martial artist, as of the writing of this post, he is the ONE
Championship Heavyweight Champion. He’s also trained Richard Gutierrez in the
martial arts and guested as an assassin on Kamangdag on GMA.
He’s also a supporter of medical cannabis, as you can see on some of Instagram
posts, like this one.

Medical Marijuana Success Stories

Walt
Walt, age 81, known to neighborhood kids as Grandpa, was diagnosed with end-
stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in 2015. It became difficult for Walt,
who had always been active, to do the things he loved doing. His lungs would lock
causing incredible pain and breathing became more and more labored. Perhaps the
worst part of the diagnosis was having to live by doctors’ orders, no longer living life
his way.
Soon after his diagnosis, a relative gave Walt CBD hemp oil that changed everything.
After only a few weeks of use, Walt found that he was breathing easier and was able
to get around better. Walt said that his doctor told him his lungs sounded better than
ever and had an increased capacity of eight percent.
Walt was able to get back to his independent style of living and working again in his
backyard. Bronchitis is no longer an issue as a result, he said, of hemp oil. Walt has
also eliminated all but 3 of 19 prescribed medications he took every day. Walt is
grateful for hemp oil and his new lease on life, and living his life on his terms
Viv
Viv, age 60, was ready to face an invasive brain surgery she felt was her last option
to alleviate unpredictable and debilitating seizures. She agreed to try one final non-
surgical treatment in the form of hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) oil.
Viv suffered from nocturnal seizure disorder. She was prescribed heavy medications
comprised of over 20 pills each day, that made it impossible for her to keep her job
as a bus driver. And the seizures didn’t stop and she did not feel like herself.
Viv’s seizures hit fast and furious, lights out, according to her. She could no longer
be left alone. However, after hearing surgery was her only viable option, she began
using CBD oil and the changes were immediate. Viv is now down to one seizure
every 3 months or so and can use CBD oil when she feels a seizure coming on that
helps curb or stop the seizure altogether. And though Viv still takes doctor prescribed
medications, her pill intake has been cut considerably. And what’s best for Viv is that
she is able to be on her own and feel like herself again.
Katie
Katie is a sweet, happy little girl getting ready to celebrate her fourth birthday. What
makes this birthday so special is that Katie was not supposed to live past her first
year.
Katie was born with Schinzel-Giedion syndrome, a very rare genetic condition that
causes neurological and developmental issues, organ and bone abnormalities and
severe seizures. Diagnosed at birth, Katie’s parents were given little hope as she was
expected to live just a few short months.
Nevertheless, Katie’s parents tried everything they could to help their newborn. But
the harsh medications left their daughter in pain, bloated and with no end to multiple
daily seizures and the numerous tumors plaguing her small body. Looking at all
options, her parents discovered hemp oil and Cibdex, two medical marijuana
products.
Within just a short time, her parents saw a drastic decrease in the number of seizures
Katie suffered and the tumors that had attacked her body all but disappeared with
regular use of CBD hemp oil products. Katie is also now more responsive to her family
and her surroundings.
Katie has defied her doctor’s expectations in all areas and is off all of the harsh
prescribed medications. Her parents are overjoyed and are getting ready to send her
to school where she will receive physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Debra
Debra, 64, was diagnosed with Autonomic Nerve Disorder when she was 60 years
old. This nerve disorder left Debra non-functional, bed-ridden and solely dependent
relying on her caregiver. Debra’s body was constantly challenged by shaking,
weakness, digestive issues and sharp pains from her head to her feet.
Debra was taking 15-20 prescribed medications at a time for her symptoms and was
seeing a neurologist, gastrologist, cardiologist, internist, rheumatologist, and a
primary doctor. At the bequest of her family, she began to use medical marijuana
and after a couple of weeks her feet didn’t hurt when walking. Her shaking got better
and she was now able to hold a fork and feed herself without the terrible shaking.
Debra was then able to stop seeing all of the specialists and was able to lessen her
pill intake. Debra got well enough that she didn’t need her caregiver to help her
anymore. And now, Debra has become a caregiver of sorts as she enjoys visiting
with seniors. She is more than ecstatic to have her life back and be able to comfort
others.
Peter
Peter, age 42, is a retired Navy serviceman who suffers from a myriad of medical
issues including PTSD. He suffers from migraines, intestinal problems and was
diagnosed with a pituitary tumor that lead to radiation and a long list of medications.
Peter, however, was not getting better, just the opposite. He was unable to work and
was afraid of losing his job. After his extensive research, he discovered the many
health benefits of cannabis oil and felt that this would be just what his body needed.
But he was also fearful of losing his VA benefits using medical marijuana.
So, Peter moved to Colorado and began using cannabis oil. The results were slow
at first, but a few months he was prescribed a higher dosage and began to see
results. His body has begun the healing process, his headaches have abated and he
is overall, feeling much better.

Legal Issues in the Philippines

 On 3 October 2016, Fernandez was arrested for marijuana possession after
attempting to elude a police checkpoint in Angeles, Pampanga. He has stated
he smokes marijuana "to prevent cancer". after a year, on case against him.23
December 2017, Fernandez had been released from jail due to dismissal of
drug.
 A 16-year-old male student was arrested inside Arellano Univeristy in
Sampaloc, Manila, for possession of illegal drugs, the Manila Police District
said in a police report. Janitor and roving guard Lito Sancho spotted the
student holding a small plastic sachet containing dried leaves with fruiting tops
believed to be marijuana around 10:15 a.m. Recovered from the student was
the said plastic sachet containing what is believed to be marijuana with an
estimated value of P100.
 Chapter 8

Conclusion
In conclusion, marijuana is a very useful drug and should be legalized. Marijuana
should no longer be grouped with cocaine and heroin, but with other recreational
drugs such as caffeine and tobacco. The legalization of marijuana will help out our
economy and create hundreds of jobs for Filipinos. Based on our research, we have
determined the positives outweigh the negatives. Legalizing marijuana has the
potential to give our economy a huge boost and could make America strong as ever.
It can be used to cure diseases and help with other medical conditions. People are
going to use this drug if it is legal or not.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug as a means of cure for people who
are battling with illnesses and disorders that can potentially lead to serious damage
in their lives. It can be used to substitute many things that could help save our
environment and air. Crime and violence would decrease tremendously. While many
people thing marijuana is an “unhealthy drug,” It is a way to help society when it is in
need.
In our country today, marijuana is considered illegal. The legalization of marijuana
can bring both favorable and unfavorable effects to the society, and the environment.
Our government is very much aware of this and have decided not legalize the drug,
despite the efforts of the citizens of convincing the government to legalize marijuana.
Tobacco and alcohol, both legal in the Philippines, are two of the primary causes of
deaths. These have caused 10% and 3.8% of all deaths in the country, respectively.
Approximately ten Filipinos die every hour due to tobacco-related diseases.
Meanwhile, marijuana which is considered illegal has not caused any death. Not a
single death has been recorded due to marijuana overdose.
Although marijuana has negative effects to the behavior, health and safety of
individuals who take these, just like any ordinary drug (both legal and illegal), it can
still be beneficial to the society in many ways. In a study on marijuana, it proved that
it has psychoactive and physiological effects when consumed. Some effects of
consuming marijuana are: relaxation and the feeling of being “high”, can relieve pain,
control nausea, stimulate appetite, increase heart rate, dilate blood vessels, fluctuate
blood pressure, decrease short-term memory, result to dry mouth, impair motor skills
and can cause reddening of the eyes. Marijuana has also been proven to treat pain
and muscle spasticity. A recent study also concluded that marijuana could help
regrow brain cells and could improve memory. Definitely, marijuana has many
benefits and can be used for several purposes.
If marijuana is to be legalized, it would have numerous good and bad effects. Some
of the positive effects of legalizing the drug are listed below. First, since marijuana is
a highly addictive drug, the demand of marijuana would drastically increase causing
ordinary citizens to supply or engage in a legal business involving marijuana in order
to cope up with the high demand of the drug. In return, this provides more job
opportunities for the Filipinos. Also, terrorists who are potential drug dealers lose their
business as well as their connection with the citizens, and instead, the cash
generated from the sale of marijuana is now controlled by the law. Taxes aren’t
imposed on marijuana since it is illegal, so the government cannot gain from it or earn
financial funding to support beneficial government programs and projects.
The second point is that the government’s efforts of prohibiting the drug has failed to
control the production and use of the drug. Millions of Filipinos continue to use
marijuana; hence legalizing the drug would just make it easier for both the
government and the people.
Third, marijuana is a great help to students, workers and even people with
Alzheimer’s disease because it has been said to improve memory. Marijuana has
been said to prevent memory loss, and regenerate dead brain cells and has also
been proven to prevent brain inflammation, which is the primary cause of Alzheimer’s
disease. In other words, legalizing the drug would be a great benefit to the society
and most especially to patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other illnesses
and ailments.
The negative effects of legalizing marijuana, on the other hand, would include: First,
is that legalizing marijuana would cause the people’s attention to be directed to the
use of marijuana instead of studying, working or doing something more productive.
The society shifts its attention to the use of the drug instead of working for the
development of the country. Educational systems could possibly be disturbed, as well
as the normal processes and sectors of the country. The Filipinos could become a
society of drug users instead of a group of intelligent, hardworking, and positive-
minded fellows.
Second, it is believed that the people would not only use, but also abuse marijuana
if it were to be legalized. This wouldn’t be surprising because the drug would become
freely available to consumers. Moreover, legalization would increase the chances of
the drug falling into the hands of kids who are the future leaders and forerunners of
our country.
Third, the legalization of marijuana could eventually lead to the legalization of other
high-end and harder drugs, which could be the possible reason for the destruction of
our society, the youth, and the values and traditions instilled in us.
Fourth, many do not think that legalizing the drug is suitable in the case of our country
where majority of the people live in poverty. Legalizing marijuana could be the reason
why more and more families and children would suffer from hunger, scarcity and
homelessness, lack of education and, even worse, death. I fear that by legalizing this
drug, it would only add up to the several problems our nation would have to face.
If marijuana were not to be legalized for the reasons of it being addictive, harmful to
the health and unsafe, it may also be pointed out that alcohol and tobacco, which are
both legal, also have similar, if not worse, side effects on the behavior, health and
safety of individuals who take these. Marijuana isn’t actually a lethal drug and is safer
than alcohol. If the government is accepting the use of alcohol and cigarettes, then
there shouldn’t be a reason why they aren’t accepting marijuana.
It is believed that too much of anything is poison and that too much of anything could
be harmful, dangerous and damaging. Growing up, we consider drugs as bad, which
is very true, but not all substances labelled as “drugs” by the government are equally
as harmful, especially when taken in moderation.
The key to building a responsible, civilized, educated and refined society is discipline.
The country, if it were to legalize marijuana, needs to discipline its leaders and
citizens and make them responsible and accountable for their actions. Using
marijuana is acceptable, as long as it is taken in reasonable amounts.
Although the debate about the legalization of marijuana in our country goes on and
on, legalizing marijuana is absolutely fine as long as it is regulated. After all, the drug
cannot cause much damage when used in moderation. Yes, marijuana has damaging
effects but regulating the use of the drug would minimize the chance of it being
harmful and destructive. I think that even though the drug has side effects, it still has
many uses in the field of medicine and it is still beneficial to most people, which is
why I think that legalizing the drug isn’t a bad thing at all. The society just has to learn
how to balance, control and use the drug justly. Giving new things a try is one step
closer to the improvement and progress of our nation.
 Chapter 9

References
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