Marijuana: Medication or Mischief?

When someone says the word marijuana, it creates a negative impact to many Filipinos’
minds due to the current war on drugs campaign by President Rodrigo Duterte. For the last 3
years in deciding the implementation of marijuana as an official medicine in the country, debates
stirred nationwide saying that marijuana can be dangerous to the health.
A lot of Filipinos have misleading thoughts about marijuana, also known as, cannabis.
Their fears and negative perspectives outweigh and hinder the utilization of marijuana as a
medicine. However, marijuana can be helpful in the medical field if not abused.
Recently on September 26, the House Committee has approved the Medical Marijuana
Bill amidst all the negative allegations of some citizens. President Rodrigo Duterte, despite his
dedication to change Philippines into a drug-free country, has expressed his approval to legalizing
the medical use of marijuana provided that it will be used for medicinal purposes. Isabela
Representative Rodolfo Albano III, noted that thousands of patients suffering from serious
illnesses from the Philippines would benefit from legalizing the medical use of marijuana.
Recent studies worldwide has proved that marijuana has positive effects on controlling
neurological conditions such as epileptic seizures, pain management in multiple sclerosis and
arthritis, slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, treatment of symptoms associated with
HIV-AIDS and analgesic care in endstage cancer treatment. Through the regular use of marijuana,
Philippines has increased the possibility to fight and eliminate serious illnesses and save patients
from suffering.
Medical marijuana contains cannabidiol which has proven to be analgesic, anti-
inflammatory, and anti-anxiety without the “high” or “stoned” feeling. Former Department of
Health Secretary Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, one of the Medical Marijuana Bill’s vocal supporters,
justified that marijuana is a better choice than some analgesics because synthesized analgesics
cause severe toxic effects on the liver and kidney while marijuana provides a safe, effective, and
organic alternative.
Marijuana can only be dangerous to our health if it is abused. Marijuana is sometimes
abused for its physical and mental effects because marijuana is proven to relieve pain and stress.
Marijuana abuse occurs when you use marijuana in non-medicinal purposes. However, addiction,
decreased short-term memory, dry mouth, impaired judgment, impaired perception and motor
skills, and increased risk of mental illness will result if exposed to marijuana abuse.
The use of marijuana has its limitations. The Medical Marijuana Bill is intended to provide
easy access to safe and affordable medical marijuana prescribed by registered physicians. That
means the focus must remain on how best to bring about legalization in a safe and orderly
manner throughout the country. In this case, people should be careful in using marijuana and not
exceed its primary purpose because marijuana can be a medication and can also bring mischief.