Former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who used profanity to describe the classification of cannabis as a dangerous drug, argues that its legalization would generate revenues for the government
A House panel for the first time in the 19th Congress under the Marcos administration took up a bill seeking to decriminalize the production, sale, and use of cannabis in the Philippines.
The lower chamber’s dangerous drugs committee chaired by Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte’s 2nd District moved to form a technical working group (TWG) with the health committee to flesh out the bill filed by former House Speaker and current Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez.
In his speech, Alvarez used colorful language to describe the current state of cannabis in the country.
“The classification of cannabis and its derivatives, as a dangerous drug, is bullsh*t. It makes no sense at all. And we must correct this absurdity,” he said on Tuesday, February 21.
“If the government allows harmful products like alcoholic beverages, cancer-causing cigarettes, and diabetes-bringing sugary drinks, why can’t we decriminalize the production and sale of a substance that is less harmful, has many benefits, and can be a source of government revenue?” Alvarez said.
The former House leader also argued that legalizing marijuana in the Philippines would generate wealth that the government can use for its programs and projects.
“We can decriminalize cannabis and its derivatives, and we can collect billions worth of taxes from its production and sale. We can use the added revenues to build more roads and bridges, more classrooms and hospitals, and more public service in pursuit of the common good. We can also use the extra taxes collected to help our country pay for our deep debt brought on by the economic crisis during the pandemic,” Alvarez said.
What the bill says
Republic Act No. 9165, also known as the amended Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, lists cannabis as a dangerous drug and substance.
Individuals convicted of cultivating marijuana, and possessing 10 grams of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, as well as 500 grams or more of marijuana, face a fine of up to P10 million and life imprisonment.
Alvarez’s proposal,House Bill No. 6783, seeks to exclude cannabis, cannabis resin and extracts, and tinctures of cannabis from the list.
Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato expressed concern that the delisting of cannabis would pave the way for the recreational use of marijuana.
“I am thinking that while alcohol and tobacco are really bad, marijuana is also bad. As to which is more harmful, I think it depends on the amount,” Gato said, arguing that a variety of cannabis has negative effects. “Marijuana just like alcohol has some effects from a medical and social standpoint.”
The dangerous drugs committee also seeks to conduct further review on the subject.
“I would like to listen first to the opinions of all the members, and opinions of the experts,” Barbers told Rappler when asked whether he would back the measure and eventually defend it at the House plenary.
“A lot of discussions will have to be made because if the proponent’s intention is to delist it, there must be some basis as to why he wants to delist it,” he said. “Before we pursue the idea of making it available for sale, it has to be delisted [from the list of dangerous drugs].”
Aside from the bill filed by Alvarez, there are also multiple bills referred to the health committee seeking to legalize medical marijuana.
That panel has yet to take up such measures, chairman Gato told Rappler, but he said he is in favor of medical, regulated marijuana.
The House, led by then-Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the 17th Congress,already approved a billseeking to legalize medical marijuana, but the proposal languished in the Senate. The lower chamber in the 18th Congress, however, failed to move past the TWG level.– Rappler.com
Independent journalist Grant Smith Ellis writes today to linked in
Press release from Massachusetts Inspector General confirms that a decision in June of 2024, by three CCC Commissioners, to strip the powers of acting agency Executive Director Debbie Hilton-Creek led to today’s emergency hearing request on Beacon Hill.
A SPECIAL 7/10 with FRENCHY CANNOLI! We are pleased to announce a special screening and Oregon premier of the movie Frenchy Dreams of Hashish, a documentary by Jake Remington. Frenchy Dreams of Hashish showcases master hashishin Frenchy Cannoli’s lifelong pursuit of perfect hashish and highlights the ethos of sustainable, sun-grown cannabis. Join us as we celebrate the art of making hash and honor the late master, Frenchy Cannoli. Get your tickets here!
It’ll take a while but the business plan to get Curaleaf products available via the NHS starts here…and the front man is now former Conservative MP George Freeman
See the press release dated 28 May (scroll down) about his involvement and and what a surprise
30 May 2024
George Freeman is no longer a Member, but was most recently the Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk, and left the Commons on 30 May 2024.
Positioned at the heart of the life sciences sector, the Cannabinoid Research & Development Group UK is a new research strategy group led by academics, researchers, clinicians, patients and industry.
The group will propel scientific research and development of pharmaceutical cannabinoid-related products in the UK.
Our ambition is to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to transform the UK into the global leader in cannabinoid research and medicine development.
We will build a robust ecosystem by integrating universities, research institutions, investors, businesses, and the NHS – driving innovation and development, nurturing top talent and fostering advances in healthcare.
London, Tuesday 28 May 2024 —Two of the leading figures in the UK’s medical science field have today announced the creation of a new research strategy group led by academics, researchers, clinicians, patients and industry. The group will develop and execute a strategy to establish the UK as a global leader in R&D in cannabinoid science.
George Freeman MP – the UK’s first Minister for Life Science and former Minister of State for Science & Technology – and Professor Trevor Jones, the former Head of R&D at Wellcome PLC and Director General of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), have joined forces with a focus on building a robust ecosystem – integrating universities, research institutions, investors, businesses, and the NHS, to advance the understanding of cannabis and its derivatives.
The UK Cannabinoid Research and Development Group (CRDG) will produce the country’s first comprehensive strategy for cannabinoid research and development filling a gap that has existed since cannabis was rescheduled for medical use in 2018.
At present, only three cannabis-based medicines have been approved for prescription in the UK. Two of these are produced by a company of UK origin. The vast majority of cannabis-based products for medical use (CBPMs) prescribed in the UK are unlicensed via the ‘specials’ route, and administered by private sector clinics.
This new task force is initially supported by seven industry partners and will be consulting on its plans in the coming months with a view to producing its first strategy paper to the new government in July. The group will be formally constituted this summer.
Marking the launch, George Freeman, MP said:
“The success of GW Pharmaceuticals, an outstanding UK Life Science success story, has created a huge global interest in the cannabinoid pathway as a rich seam of potential new therapeutics in neuroscience. There is now a broad acknowledgement across Government, that since the rescheduling of cannabinoid medicines by the Government in 2018 to allow patients suffering from epilepsy and other untreated conditions for which cannabinoid medicines are the only relief, not enough has been done to advance clinical understanding of cannabinoids or convert UK strengths in cannabinoid research to industrial and commercial advantage.
President Biden’s recent announcement to reschedule cannabis in the US which is likely to stimulate R&D investment means that we cannot waste any further time to exploit the opportunities that exist here in the UK.
We must build upon our unique foundations of world class research universities, innovative entrepreneurship, and the NHS to make good on the promise of the summer of 2018.
After a career in biotechnology investing and as Minister for Life Science, Agritech and UK research and innovation it is clear that we have a huge industrial opportunity in this sector which we cannot afford not to support.“
Professor Trevor Jones:
“Data from observational studies and real world evidence (RWE) generated from some private clinics provide valuable insights into medicinal cannabis in clinical settings, but these study designs have obvious limitations and highlight the need for well-designed, randomised controlled trials to establish efficacy and safety more definitively. The CRDG will focus relentlessly on creating an environment for vital advanced clinical trials and scientific research into cannabinoids to take place here in the UK.”