The Philippines House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday that would legalize the medical use of marijuana, marking the third and final reading of the proposal.
House Bill 10439, known as the Access to Medical Cannabis Act and sponsored by Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, was approved overwhelmingly, 177 to 9.
The legislation would legalize the possession and use of marijuana and marijuana products for those with a qualifying condition who receive a recommendation from a licensed physician. Licensed medical marijuana dispensaries would be allowed to distribute the medicine to patients.
The Medical Cannabis Office, to be established under the Department of Health, would oversee the implementation of the law, including licensing and enforcement.
A similar measure, the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, was passed by the House in January 2019 during the 17th Congress but stalled in the Senate after then-President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew his support.
If the measure passes the Senate and is signed into law by President Bongbong Marcos, Phillipines will join 50 other countries that have legalized medical marijuana. The United States took a step in that direction recently, with the DEA moving to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III.
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