Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS

317

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The 1987 Constitution declares that "the State shall protect and promote the right
to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them" (Article 1,
Section 15). In line with this constitutional mandate, this bill seeks to establish a
clear legal framework for the regulated use of cannabis and its derivatives for

medical purposes.

Scientific and clinical studies have recognized the therapeutic potential of
cannabis in the management of certain debilitating conditions, including chronic
pain associated with cancer, intractable epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and
HIV/AIDS-related wasting. A comprehensive review by the US. National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded that substantial
evidence supports the efficacy of cannabis in treating chronic pain and
chemotherapy-induced nausea, among other conditions.1.

Acknowledging such medical evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO),
in 2019, formally recommended the rescheduling of cannabis and cannabis-
related substances under the international drug control system to reflect updated
clinical knowledge”. In response to similar findings, more than fifty countries —
including Germany, Canada, Australia, Israel, and Thailand, have adopted
regulated frameworks allowing the medical use of cannabis*.

In the Philippines, however, Republic Act No. 9165, or the “Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,” prohibits cannabis in all forms, without
distinction between medical and non-medical use. As a result, this prohibition
effectively deprives Filipino patients of access to a therapeutic option that is

2 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). The Health Effects of Cannabis and
Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research. Washington, DC: The
National Academies Press.

2 World Health Organization, (2019). Cannabis and cannabis-related substances: Critical review. Expert
‘Committee on Drug Dependence, 42nd Meeting.

> Hall, W., & Lynskey, M. (2020). Assessing the public health impacts of legalizing recreational cannabis

use: The US experience, World Psychiatry, 19(2), 179-186.
1



increasingly recognized by international medical and regulatory institutions.

This bill seeks to address that gap by establishing the Philippine Medical
Cannabis Authority (PMCA) under the Department of Health, which shall be
responsible for overseeing a strictly regulated medical cannabis program. The bill
provides for strict regulation over the cultivation, manufacture, prescription,
dispensing, and use of medical cannabis. Patients diagnosed with qualifying
medical conditions may access cannabis-based treatments only through PMCA-
licensed physicians, pharmacies, and regulated dispensaries.

To ensure accountability and prevent misuse, the proposed bill mandates the
creation of a Prescription Monitoring System, a national Medical Cannabis ID
Registry, and strict packaging, labeling, and dosage protocols. All cannabis
products must be tested, tracked, and dispensed only by authorized entities.
Violations, including unauthorized use or trafficking, remain punishable under
existing drug laws.

The bill further establishes a Medical Cannabis Research and Development Fund
and mandates the inclusion of relevant modules in medical and allied health
education. A Congressional Oversight Committee is likewise established to
ensure transparency and accountability in implementation.

This bill does not seek to decriminalize recreational cannabis use. It is a health-
based, science-informed initiative designed to provide qualified Filipino patients
with safe, lawful, and professionally supervised therapeutic option where
conventional treatment has failed or remains inadequate.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

JAVY IIGPEL L. BPNITEZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS

HOUSE BILL NO. 317

Introduced by REP. JAVIER MIGUEL L. BENITEZ

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MEDICALIZATION OF CANNABIS, EXPANDING
ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS AS A MEANS OF MEDICAL
TREATMENT, EXPANDING RESEARCH INTO ITS MEDICINAL
PROPERTIES, ENUMERATING PROHIBITED ACTS AND PRESCRIBING
PENALTIES THERETO

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Cannabis
‘Medicalization Act of the Philippines."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to adopt an
integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
endeavor to make essential goods, health, and other social services available to
all the people at affordable cost. The State shall protect and promote the right to
health of the people and instill health consciousness among them. Pursuant
thereto, the State shall legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis which
has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses for known
debilitating medical conditions.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

a. Cannabis includes every species and variety of the genus cannabis,
whether dried or fresh and flowering or fruiting tops, or any part or
portion of the plant and seeds thereof, and all its geographic varieties,
whether as a reefer, resin, extract, tincture or in any form whatsoever;

b. Closed Locked and Controlled Facility refers to a closet, room or other
comparable, stationary, and fully enclosed area equipped with secured
locks, or other functioning security devices that permit access only to
authorized personnel of the medical cannabis industry players’

3


cultivation, extraction, processing, manufacturing and production
sites and dispensary;

c. Debilitating Medical Condition refers to a condition that is severe,
persistent, and seriously affecting the patient's strength and ability to
function and carry on most of daily living activities, as identified and
included in the Good Clinical Practice to be formulated and developed
by the Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority (PMCA) established
under this Act;

d. Medical Cannabis refers to cannabis products in their pharmaceutical
formulation which shall have detailed and accurate information
regarding the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and
cannabidiol (CBD) as certified by the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA);

e. Medical use refers to the use of medical cannabis as a complementary
treatment to alleviate a qualified patient's debilitating medical
condition or symptoms, and shall include its acquisition, possession,
transportation, delivery, dispensation, administration, cultivation, or
manufacturing, research and development for medical purposes;

f. $2 License refers to a license issued by the PDEA to a Professional
Regulatory Commission (PRC)-registered physician; and

g- Written Prescription refers to a document dated and signed by a PRC-
registered physician possessing an S2 License, containing the
debilitating medical condition of the qualified patient under Section 8
of this Act, the recommended dosage of medical cannabis, and
treatment plan for palliative 24 care.

SEC. 4. Medicalization of Cannabis. - The use of cannabis for medical
purposes is hereby permitted, as herein provided for in this Act, to treat or
alleviate a qualified patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms. The
medicalization of cannabis includes its acquisition, possession, transportation,
delivery, dispensing, administration, cultivation, or manufacturing by private
individuals or entities only for medical and research purposes.

SEC. 5. Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority. ~ There shall be created
a Philippine Medical Cannabis Authority, herein referred to as "PMCA" under
the Department of Health (DOH), which shall be the principal regulatory agency
in the access and use of medical cannabis and in the implementation of this Act.
It shall be headed by a Director to be designated by the President of the Republic
of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Secretary of Health.

The DOH shall organize the Authority, including its staffing pattern, and
shall ensure its knowledge, competence, and experience with the use of cannabis
and regulation of dangerous drugs for medical purposes. Necessary staffing
requirements may be requested from the Department of Budget and
Management.


The PMCA shall be assisted by an inter-agency Medical Cannabis
Advisory Committee.

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Philippine Medical Cannabis
Authority. - The PMCA shall have the following powers and functions:

a.

b.

To formulate and adopt a Comprehensive Cannabis Medicalization
Plan;

To formulate, adopt and implement rules, regulations, and guidelines
related to medical cannabis plants, its products and by-products,
including but not limited to, propagation, cultivation, planting,
harvesting, processing, manufacturing, packaging, _ labeling,
distribution, dispensing, and patient licenses or prescription;

. To establish and maintain an information system especially to track

cannabis growth from seed to sale for monitoring and regulation
purposes:

Provided, That the PMCA shall monitor or regulate the cultivation,
manufacture, storage, distribution, prescription, dispensation and sale
of medical cannabis by licensed dispensaries;

. To formulate, adopt, publish and implement Standard Operating

Procedures for every stage of producing medical cannabis, such as, but
not limited, to the following:
i Good Clinical Practice (GCP);
Good Agriculture Practice (GAP);
. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP);
iv. Good Distribution Practice (GDP);
v. Good Waste Disposal Practice (GWDP); and
vi. Good Security Practice (GSP).

. To issue licenses to duly registered entities or persons, private or

government, that shall engage as medical cannabis industry players
through cultivation, manufacturing, production, dispensing, research
and development, and importation and sale of medical cannabis;

To regularly and continuously conduct research and development on
the medical cannabis industry and apply the same to further develop
the industry in the country;

.. To conduct or sponsor or arrange or permit training and educational

programs on specific aspects of the medical cannabis industry:
Provided, That the said training and educational programs shall be a
prerequisite to permitting licensed physicians to prescribe and other
medical practitioners to dispense medical cannabis products or by-
products;

. To establish a Prescription Monitoring System and maintain an

electronic database of registered medical cannabis patients, their
physicians, and other qualified entities for monitoring and regulation
purposes;


i. To hold seminars, workshops, conferences and information
dissemination campaigns on the medical cannabis industry, its
products, and by-products, particularly on the therapeutic and
medical effects of cannabis as authorized in this Act and the risk
associated with the use of cannabis for recreational activities;

j. Tomake recommendations to the Commission on Higher Education to
include medical cannabis as a subject or course in the curriculum of
universities and colleges for academic degrees in agriculture,
medicine, and applied science and technology;

k, To make recommendations to PRC to develop and implement a
Continuing Professional Development Program on Medical Cannabis
for physicians, pharmacists, and other allied medical and health care
professionals;

1. To hire or contract consultants, local or foreign, individuals or entities,
for technical capacity building;

m. To import for resale in the Philippines for authorized users medical
cannabis products from foreign manufacturers or companies:
Provided, That the said medical cannabis products comply with the
safety and quality standards prescribed by PMCA, in consultation
with the Advisory Committee as provided for in this Act: Provided
further, That the testing of any medical cannabis product to determine
its potency, consistency, safety and effectivity, as well as compliance
with packaging and labeling safety requirements shall remain with the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA);

n. To regulate prices of medical cannabis products in the country;

0. To accept grants and technical assistance in support of medical
cannabis research and development; and

p. To perform other functions as may be deemed necessary to aid the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Advisory Committee on Medicinal Use of Cannabis. - There is
hereby constituted an advisory committee on the medical use of cannabis,
hereinafter referred to as the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee (MCAC),
which shall assist and provide directions in the formulation, implementation and
assessment of the policies, guidelines, and regulations under this Act.

The Secretary of Health shall serve as the ex-officio chairperson of the
MCAC. The Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), the Directors-
General of the FDA and the PDEA, the Secretary of Science and Technology and
the Secretary of Agriculture or their respective representatives shall be
permanent members of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee.

The Secretary shall appoint the seven regular members of the MCAC who
shall serve for a term of three (3) years. It shall be comprised of three (3) PRC-
registered physicians, two (2) experts in the regulation of controlled substances
for medical use, and two (2) representatives from nationally recognized

6


organizations of patients with debilitating medical conditions: Provided, That the
seven regular members must be citizens and residents of the Philippines, of good
moral character, of recognized probity and independence, and must distinguish
themselves professionally in public, civic or academic service and must have
been in the practice of their professions for at least ten (10) years: Provided,
further. That the regular members shall nominate a Vice-Chairperson from
among themselves, and shall receive an honoraria in accordance with existing
laws, rules and regulations.

The MCAC shall meet once a month or as often as necessary at the
discretion of the Chairperson.

SEC. 8. Qualified Patient. - The qualified patient is a person who has been
diagnosed by a certifying physician as having a debilitating medical condition as.
defined in Section 3 (c) and may receive therapeutic or palliative benefits from
the use of medical cannabis. Qualified patients shall be registered with the PMCA
and assigned a unique alphanumeric identification number and shall be issued a
registry card with a quick response (QR) code for verification.

If the qualified patient is a minor or is incapable or incapacitated to fully
give his consent, regardless of age, the certifying physician shall explain to the
patient and to the custodial parent or legal guardian the potential risks and
benefits of using medical cannabis. The custodial parent or legal guardian shall
signify, in writing, their consent to allow the qualified patient's medical use of
cannabis.

SEC. 9. Issuance of Written Prescription, Requisites. - A written
prescription allowing the use of medical cannabis shall be recognized and
accepted if issued by a physician who:

a. Is duly licensed by the PRC and in good standing;

b. Has no previous or existing criminal or administrative case/s; and

c. Is a holder of an S2 license issued by PDEA and has undergone
appropriate medical cannabis training from PMCA.

The certifying physician shall not issue a written prescription for his or
her own use, or the use of his or her immediate family or relatives within the
second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

The certifying physician shall maintain a record of all his issued
prescriptions. He or she shall be responsible for maintaining a record of every
qualified patient prescribed the use of medical cannabis, specifically describing
the quantity administered/used, therapeutic/desired effect, and any adverse
reaction, at the end of each year.


SEC. 10. Validity of Prescription. - ‘The written prescription issued by all
certifying physicians shall include a validity period which shall in no case exceed
one (1) year from the date of issuance.

SEC. 11. Grounds for Revocation of Prescription. - Any prescription
issued by a certifying physician may be revoked based on the following reasons:

|. Misuse or diversion of the written prescription;
. Failure to abide by the prescribed dosage and form;
The patient no longer suffers from a debilitating medical condition;
. The patient has not received a therapeutic or palliative benefit from the
use of medical cannabis; and
e. When the qualified patient has died.

Boge

SEC. 12. Standardized Written Prescription. - The PMCA shall develop
and require the use of a standardized format for all written prescriptions and the
same shall be made available to all certifying physicians.

The standardized format shall include the following details: (a) name, date
of birth, and address of the qualified patient; (b) a statement that the qualified
patient has debilitating medical condition as provided in Section 3 (c) and that
the qualified patient is under the certifying physician's care for the debilitating
medical condition; (c) recommended form and dosage of medical cannabis; (d)
issue and expiry date of the prescription; and (e) name, address, telephone
number, handwritten signature.

SEC. 13. Administration of Medical Cannabis. - Medical cannabis may be
administered through the following: (a) oral; (b) sublingual; (c) inhalation
inhalers; (d) topical; and (e) suppositories

SEC. 14. Medical Cannabis Industry Players. - Only duly registered
entities or persons shall be allowed to engage as medical cannabis industry
players to conduct any of the following acts in relation to medical cannabis: (a)
cultivation; (b) manufacturing; (c) production; (d) dispensing; (e) research and
development; (f) importation; and (g) dispensing and sale: Provided, That all
industry players shall apply and be issued appropriate licenses by the PMCA and
other national government agencies concerned prior to engagement in any
business operations as regards medical cannabis: Provided further. That industry
players shall be strictly regulated and shall, at all times, comply with the
provisions of this Act and the rules, regulations, guidelines and standard
operating procedures to be formulated for its implementation.

SEC. 15. Cultivation, Production and Manufacturing of Cannabis. - The
specific areas allowable for the cultivation of cannabis shall be identified by the
PMCA: Provided, That cultivation shall only be permitted in a closed locked and
controlled facility and that cultivation shall not be located within one (1)
kilometer of the property line of a pre-existing public or private school, college

8


or university, daycare center, child care facility or an area zoned for residential
use: Provided, further, That colleges or universities conducting research and
development on medical cannabis are exempted from the one (1) kilometer
radius requirement.

The PMCA shall issue appropriate licenses and permits for the cultivation,
production, and distribution of medical cannabis subject to DDB guidelines. It
shall also adopt measures that will ensure the prevention of misuse and illicit
traffic of the cannabis plant, such as the establishment of a cannabis plant
monitoring system.

The PMCA is hereby authorized to engage consultancy services of foreign
cannabis experts for the initial cultivation and production of medical cannabis.

The PMCA shall facilitate the initial importation of seeds required for the
cultivation and production of medical cannabis: Provided, That the imported
seeds are used solely for the initial cultivation of locally grown cannabis:
Provided further. That importation of seeds shall be allowed only in the initial
stage of the implementation of this Act or a period of not more than five (5) years
or until the industry players are fully capacitated to independently cultivate
locally-grown cannabis.

SEC. 16. Medical Cannabis Products. - Medical cannabis products shall
be in the form of edibles, pills, oil, tincture, flower, topicals, and inhalers.
Importation of the same products from countries with stringent regulatory
agencies or countries with established medical cannabis regimes or countries
already using the same medical cannabis products in the last five years, shall be
allowed under this Act. Importation of medical cannabis products from countries
not using their own products shall be prohibited.

SEC. 17. Medical Cannabis Product Label and Packaging. ~ All medical
cannabis products shall be properly and adequately labeled like that of any
pharmaceutical products. The label shall contain the following information,
among others:

. CBD and THC content and ratio;
. Batch and Series number;
. Date of production and expiration;
. Clinical Indications and Contraindications;
Dosage and Administration Instruction;
Storage Instruction; and
. Other relevant information as may deemed necessary by the PMCA.

emeangee

SEC. 18. Dispensing Medical Cannabis. - Prior to dispensing medical
cannabis, the authorized dispensaries must require the presentation of the
registry ID card, scan the QR code, examine the details, and update the data

9


contained therein after the sale. The QR code shall contain details such as the
name of the certifying physician, the assigned unique alphanumeric
identification number of the patient, the diagnosed medical condition of the
qualified patient, the prescribed dosage, medical cannabis product and
formulation, the duration of use, and the complete transaction history of the
qualified patient.

SEC. 19, Authorized Transport Vehicles. - Only authorized transport
vehicles shall be authorized to carry and transport medical cannabis plants and
products.

SEC. 20. Electronic Verification. - The PMCA shall establish a
Prescription Monitoring System which shall be made accessible to the PDEA
Compliance Service and authorized dispensaries where they may electronically
verify and determine the validity of the registry ID card and information on
whether the cardholder is a registered qualified patient.

SEC. 21. Cannabis Plant Monitoring System. - The cultivation facilities
shall establish and maintain a Cannabis Plant Monitoring System for testing and
data collection. It shall be available for inspection of regulatory agencies for
purposes of documenting each cannabis plant and for monitoring plant
development throughout the life cycle from seed planting to final packaging,

SEC. 22. Authority of the PMCA to Enter Premises. - To ensure
compliance with the provisions of this Act, the PMCA may, at all times, enter
every building, room, enclosure, or premises occupied or used for the cultivation,
production, preparation, manufacture for sale, storage, and sale of medical
cannabis, and to inspect the premises and all equipment, apparatuses, fixtures,
furniture, and machinery used for the preparation thereof.

SEC. 23. Testing of Medical Cannabis. - The PMCA shall test all medical
cannabis products prior to their distribution, dispensation, and sale to determine
their potency, consistency, safe and effective use. It shall ensure that all medical
cannabis products are medical grade and safe for use.

It shall ensure that all medical cannabis products are individually
wrapped at the original point of preparation and conform to existing packaging
and labeling requirements of the PMCA and FDA.

SEC. 24. Exemption from Civil and Criminal Liability. - Subject to Section
25 of this Act, the following shall be exempt from civil and criminal liability:

a. The certifying physician, as defined in Section 9 of this Act, for issuing
written prescriptions stating that in the physician's professional
opinion, a patient is qualified to receive therapeutic or palliative

10


benefit from the medical use of cannabis to treat or alleviate the
patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms;

b. A qualified patient for using medical cannabis in the prescribed dosage
and form for treatment of his debilitating medical condition as
determined by a certifying physician;

c. An authorized representative for assisting a registered qualified
patient for possessing not more than the exact prescribed dosage of
cannabis needed by the qualifying patient;

d. The licensed medical cannabis industry players and their personnel
authorized to dispense, cultivate, manufacture, or produce medical
cannabis as provided under this Act; and

e. Personnel of national government agencies tasked with testing
medical cannabis and cannabis products, and other similar
undertakings which would require handling, transporting or
otherwise possessing cannabis and cannabis products: Provided, That
the said personnel of national government agencies are authorized by
the PMCA to perform such undertakings: Provided further, That the
said personnel are performing such undertakings while on duty inside
an authorized or licensed cultivation, production, testing and
dispensing facility.

SEC. 25. Prohibited Acts. - it shall be prohibited for:

a. A qualified patient to:

i, Use cannabis for purposes other than for treatment of a
debilitating medical condition and outside of the designated
treatment facilities;

ii, Use of cannabis with other illegal intoxicating or dangerous
substances; and
iii, Sell or give away medical cannabis.
b. Any physician to:
Prescribe medical cannabis without an S2 license;
ii, Prescribe medical cannabis to any person who is not a qualified
patient under this Act;
iii. Prescribe the use of medical cannabis for purposes other than
for treatment of a debilitating medical condition;
iv. Prescribe medical cannabis in quantity more than the needed
dosage;
v. Fail or refuse to maintain the record of all his or her patients and
prescriptions issued referred to in Section 9 of this Act; and
vi. _ Issue a written prescription for his or her own use, or the use of
his or her immediate family or relatives within the second civil
degree of consanguinity or affinity,
c. A Medical Cannabis Industry Player to:
i. Operate as a medical cannabis industry player without a license;

W


iii,

vi.

vii.

viii.

Acquire, possess, deliver, transfer, transport, supply, or
dispense

medical cannabis to any person except to registered qualified
patients or through their authorized representatives;

Cultivate, manufacture, and store cannabis/medical cannabis
in violation of any of the provisions of this Act;

Acquire usable cannabis or mature cannabis plants from illegal
sources;

Refer patients to an unqualified physician;

Dispense without presentation of the certifying physician's
written prescription and valid registry ID card of the qualified
patient or its authorized representative;

Dispense more than the required dosage for a patient; and

Fail to scan the QR Code of any qualified patient and update the
Prescription Monitoring System prior to dispensing cannabis,

d. Any person or entity to:

Advertise the sale of medical cannabis in any manner, including
printed materials, on radio or television, social media, internet
or by paid-in-person solicitation of customers, and electronic
games: Provided, That this shall not be construed to prohibit
medical cannabis industry players from posting appropriate
signages in their place of business or operation, and from being
included in business directories, or sponsoring or organizing
health, charity or advocacy events, subject to the guidelines to
be issued by the PMCA;

Violate the confidentiality of information under R.A. 10173,
otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012’)

Purchase of medical cannabis when not authorized to do so;
Falsifies an identification card issued by the DOH or an S2
license or possesses a falsified identification card and either
attempts to use the card to obtain medical cannabis or obtains
medical cannabis. Any person using or possessing a falsified
identification card shall be presumed the author thereof; and
Discriminates any qualified patient from any services in public
or private establishment; employment in any public or private
institution; or admission to any academic institution: Provided,
‘That the qualified patient shall not partake in medical cannabis
within the premises of the place of employment or the academic
institution.

SEC. 26. Penalties. - Violation of any provisions of this Act shall be subject
to the penalties provided for under Republic Act No. 9165, as amended, or the
"Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002".

SEC. 27. Research and Development. - The PMCA shall, within one
hundred twenty (120) days from the approval of this Act, use existing research

12


made by reputable international organizations, as well as research made or
published by its counterpart in countries wherein medical cannabis is
administered.

SEC, 28. Medical Cannabis Research and Development Fund. - A portion
of the proceeds from licensing and registration of medical cannabis industry
players shall be earmarked for the medical cannabis industry research, protection
and development.

SEC. 29. Training of Medical Cannabis Physicians, Pharmacists, and
Other Allied Medical and Health Care Professionals. - ‘The PMCA shall develop
an appropriate training program for physicians, pharmacists, and other allied
medical and health care professionals on the following topics: the pharmacology
of cannabis; contraindications; side effects; adverse reactions; overdose
prevention; drug interactions; dosing; routes of administration; risks and
benefits; warnings and precautions; abuse and dependence, and other related
topics. Completion of the program shall be a precondition for the physician,
pharmacists, and other allied medical and health care professionals, as may be
licensed, to prescribe, dispense and administer medical cannabis to qualified
patients.

The PMCA shall coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education to
integrate the aforementioned topics on medical cannabis into the medical
curriculum of all medical schools, and academic curriculum for agriculture and
applied science and technology in all colleges and universities. The PMCA shall
likewise coordinate with the PRC for the development and implementation of a
Continuing Professional Development program on medical cannabis for certified
physicians.

SEC. 30. Annual Reports. - The PMCA shall submit an annual report to
the DOH and to both Houses of Congress, which shall include the following,
information:

a. Number of applications and renewals filed for registry identification
cards;

. Number of registered qualified patients at the time of report;
Nature of debilitating medical conditions of the qualified patients;

. Number of physicians authorized to issue prescriptions;
Number of registry identification cards revoked for misconduct;
Number of medical cannabis industry players;

.. Assessment of the use of medical cannabis, research, and treatment of
patients with a debilitating medical condition; and

._ Other pertinent information.

yr memeangs


SEC. 31. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - ‘There is hereby
created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to conduct a regular review
of the implementation of this Act.

The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee shall be composed of five
(©) Members from the Senate and five (5) Members from the House of
Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, respectively. The Joint Congressional Oversight
Committee shall be jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee
on Health and Demography and the House of Representatives Committee on
Health.

SEC. 32. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the PMCA, in consultation with the appropriate
government agencies, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 33. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's
appropriations of the DOH. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 34. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not
affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 35. Repealing Clause. - For purposes of this Act, pertinent provisions
of Republic Act No, 9165, as amended, otherwise known as the "Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002," as amended, and Republic Act No. 9711 or the
"Food and Drug Administration Act of 2019", and all other laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this
Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 36. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days from
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,