Legalization of “the herb” in the Philippines

Photo from: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/01/04/1274944/legalize-pot-palace-says-its-congress

         Last January 1, 2014 the state of Colorado legalized the use of Marijuana not only for medical use but also for recreational purposes. "With Washington state next to implement marijuana legalization and other states strongly considering enacting similar laws, we believe this marks the beginning of the end of the nation's decades-long war on marijuana and its harmful human and fiscal toll," Ezekiel Edwards, a director at the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a prepared statement. This issue concerned other countries around the world including the Philippines. It is said that Marijuana can cure a number of sicknesses and is healthier than cigarettes and alcoholic beverages. Other countries legalized Medical Marijuana because of its health benefits to patients that have prescriptions from a licensed doctor.

         In the Philippines, Marijuana is still far from being legalized. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that it is still in the hands of the congress if they will make a bill about the issue. As stated in the news, Scientists are still doing more research about the ingredients, its long term effects and on its consequences on people under the influence of Marijuana. In an issue released by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana can cause breathing problems and can result to coughing, memory loss, mental illnesses and other related health setbacks. On the other hand, continued use of medical marijuana is accepted in other US states to relieve pain from Chemotherapy and in helping AIDS patients in resurgence of loss appetite.

         In relation to this issue, news surfaced that, 37 people from Colorado who have smoked marijuana allegedly died of an overdose from the drug. But a couple of US newspapers said that the report was just a hoax. Also, contrary to the rumors spreading about overdosing from the drug, the US newhealthguide.org and IVY League Brown University Health Education had an article to oppose the news. They stated in general that Marijuana use has no recorded death cases and that the drug cannot cause any permanent disabilities. Scientific studies claim that the chemical found in Marijuana Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC can cause people to get high when ingested but has no evidence that this chemical can be toxic to the body.

Photo from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/04/us-usa-marijuana-california-idUSBRE83304D20120404

Even with its proven health benefits, the legalization of Marijuana may not be apt with the Filipinos’ attitude towards the use of this drug. Many users are still careless and negligent of the consequences of their actions. The non-existence of a drug education in the Philippines may cause this recklessness in Filipinos’ recreational use of drugs. However, the use of Marijuana for medical purposes may be a good idea for patients in the country. With today’s popularity of herbal and all natural medicines to cure various illnesses, medical marijuana may be an addition to the growing discoveries of organic medicine.

        Lastly, although marijuana use is still frowned upon in many countries including the Philippines its proven effects to alleviate pain and help treat other sicknesses is remarkable and worthy to be given a chance. Nonetheless and if ever marijuana would be legalized for medicinal purposes, a controlled distribution should be implemented to avoid recreational use.

Blogpost by: Ted Nichol Q. Siquian 

References:

Romero, A. (2014, January 4). Legalize pot? Palace says it’s up to Congress. Retrieved January 11, 2014, from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/01/04/1274944/legalize-pot-palace-says-its-congress

Brown University Health Education. (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2014, from http://brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education/alcohol,_tobacco,_&_other_drugs/marijuana.php

New Health Guide.  (n.d.). Retrieved January 11, 2014, from http://www.newhealthguide.org/Marijuana-Medical-Uses.html