Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. __________ 
Introduced by Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Recognizing 
that 
health 
is 
a 
fundamental 
human 
right, 
the State upholds providing every person with access to safe, effective, and 
affordable treatment, especially those suffering from debilitating medical 
conditions. When conventional treatments fail, enabling alternative options 
becomes a matter of compassion and justice. 
Noting 
that 
this 
measure 
has 
already 
been 
approved 
by 
the House of Representatives in the previous 19th Congress, this bill reflects 
the consolidated proposals and ideas of various members of Congress and 
stakeholders, establishing a strict regulatory system to ensure medical 
cannabis is used solely for compassionate medical treatment and scientific 
research. This ensures that patients with conditions such as cancer, 
epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and other debilitating diseases may access 
compassionate treatment while safeguarding public health and preventing 
misuse. 
Upholding every patient’s right to seek relief when standard 
treatments fail remains at the heart of this measure. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly 
sought. 
ANTONIO “TONYPET” T. ALBANO 
July 2, 2025
2:04 pm
1115


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___________ 
Introduced by Representative Antonio “Tonypet” T. Albano 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
RIGHT 
TO 
ACCESS 
TO 
MEDICAL 
CANNABIS, 
ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAL CANNABIS OFFICE AND PROVIDING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the 
1 
“Access to Medical Cannabis Act” 
2 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy – Pursuant to Article XIII, 
3 
Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, it shall be the policy of the State 
4 
to adopt an integrated approach to health and development which 
5 
shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social 
6 
services available to all the people at affordable cost. The State shall 
7 
protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill 
8 
health consciousness among them. 
9 
The State has long pursued intensive and unrelenting 
10 
campaign against drug trafficking while it aims to balance and 
11 
1115


 
2 
 
harmonize with the imperative to safeguard people's right to health. 
1 
Accordingly, the prohibitions provided under Republic Act (RA) 9165, 
2 
otherwise known as the "Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 
3 
2002", ', as amended, and other related laws shall not extend to 
4 
medical cannabis intended for the treatment and medication of 
5 
qualified patients with debilitating and non-debilitating medical 
6 
conditions. The State's policy thus dictates that access to medical 
7 
cannabis shall serve only as a delimited exception to the prohibited 
8 
acts involving cannabis or marijuana under RA 9165. 
9 
 
SEC. 3 Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
10 
 
(a) Accredited 
physician 
refers 
to 
a 
licensed 
physician 
11 
authorized by the Medical Cannabis Office (MCO), to issue 
12 
prescription on the use of medical cannabis upon a prior 
13 
and mandatory clearance from the Dangerous Drugs Board 
14 
(DDB) that physician is not included in the dangerous drugs 
15 
watch list of the agency; 
16 
(b) Cannabis refers to every kind, class, specie or variety of the 
17 
plant Cannabis, hashish, bhang, guaza, churrus, ganjab, 
18 
and embraces every kind, class and character of marijuana, 
19 
whether dried or fresh and flowering, flowering or fruiting 
20 
tops, or any part or portion of the plant and seeds thereof, 
21 
and all its geographic varieties, whether as a reefer, resin, 
22 
extract, tincture or in any form whatsoever; 
23 


 
3 
 
(c) Closed locked facility refers to a closet, room or other 
1 
comparable, stationary, and fully enclosed area equipped 
2 
with secured locks or other functioning security devices that 
3 
permit access only to authorized personnel of the cultivation 
4 
site and dispensary; or an outdoor area with an enclosed 
5 
perimeter by chain-link fencing, wooden slats, or a similar 
6 
material that prevents access by the general public and fully 
7 
equipped with functioning security devices that permit 
8 
access only to authorized personnel of the cultivation site 
9 
and dispensary; 
10 
(d) Debilitating medical condition refers to any disease that 
11 
produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting 
12 
syndrome; severe and chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, 
13 
or severe and persistent muscle spasms. Debilitating 
14 
medical conditions include the following diseases: (1) 
15 
Cancer; (2) Glaucoma; (3) Multiple sclerosis; (4) Damage to 
16 
the nervous system of the spinal cord, with objective 
17 
neurological indication of intractable spasticity; (5) Epilepsy; 
18 
(6) Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or 
19 
acquired immune deficiency syndrome; (7) Post-traumatic 
20 
stress disorder; (8) Rheumatoid arthritis or similar chronic 
21 
autoimmune inflammatory disorders; (9) Diseases requiring 
22 
admission into hospice care; and (10) Any other condition 
23 
that is subsequently identified and allowed by the 
24 


 
4 
 
Department of Health (DOH) through the MCO established 
1 
under this Act; 
2 
(e) Medical Cannabis refers to concentrates, topicals, tinctures, 
3 
edibles, cannabis products such as capsules and oil, 
4 
including hemp, flower and any other product in their 
5 
appropriate finished form, and any other derivative in their 
6 
pharmaceutical formulation which shall have detailed and 
7 
accurate 
information 
regarding 
the 
concentration 
of 
8 
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) certified 
9 
by the MCO to qualified patients for medical purpose; 
10 
(f) Medical use refers to the use of medical cannabis to treat or 
11 
alleviate a qualified patient's medical condition or its 
12 
symptoms and shall include its acquisition, possession, 
13 
transportation, 
delivery, 
dispensation, 
administration, 
14 
cultivation, or manufacturing for medical purposes; 
15 
(g) Non-debilitating medical condition is that which encompasses 
16 
a range of medical issues that, although not severe or 
17 
disabling, can still impact an individual's well-being and 
18 
quality of life. These conditions may include common 
19 
symptoms, mild disorders, or chronic issues that do not 
20 
necessarily prevent individuals from carrying out daily 
21 
activities but can cause discomfort or distress; and 
22 
(h) Qualified patient refers to a person who has been diagnosed 
23 
by an accredited physician as having a medical condition or 
24 
has symptoms associated with medical condition as defined 
25 


 
5 
 
under Sec. 3 (d) and (g), and who, in the accredited 
1 
physician’s evaluation, shall receive medical cannabis as 
2 
treatment. 
3 
 
SEC. 4. Access to Medical Cannabis. –  Access to medical 
4 
cannabis shall be allowed for medical use by qualified patients, 
5 
subject to the provisions of this Act. 
6 
 
SEC. 5. The Medical Cannabis Office. – There is hereby 
7 
created the MCO, which shall be under the direct supervision and 
8 
control of the DOH. The MCO is the primary regulatory body for 
9 
medical cannabis. It shall have administrative, regulatory, and 
10 
monitoring functions.  
11 
 
For purposes of policy and program coordination, the DOH 
12 
shall coordinate with the DDB, the Department of Agriculture (DA) 
13 
and such other agencies as may be determined by the DOH.  
14 
The Secretary of the DOH shall determine the organizational 
15 
structure and staffing pattern of the MCO in accordance with the 
16 
revised compensation and position classification system subject to 
17 
the evaluation and approval of the Department of Budget and 
18 
Management and in compliance with the Civil Service laws and other 
19 
pertinent laws, rules and regulations. 
20 
 


 
6 
 
SEC.6. Powers and Functions of the MCO. – The MCO shall 
1 
have the following powers and functions: 
2 
 
(a) Formulate, 
develop, 
and 
establish 
a 
comprehensive, 
3 
integrated, and unified rules and regulations on medical 
4 
cannabis use and strategy to ensure its safety, accessibility, 
5 
affordability, and availability; 
6 
(b) Promulgate rules and regulations in coordination with DDB 
7 
and DA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of 
8 
this Act, including the importation, cultivation, manufacture 
9 
and manner of safekeeping, disposition, or condemnation of 
10 
any 
medical 
cannabis, 
and 
prescribe 
administrative 
11 
remedies or sanctions for the violations of such rules and 
12 
regulations; 
13 
(c) Monitor 
and 
regulate 
the 
importation, 
cultivation, 
14 
manufacture, 
storage, 
distribution, 
prescription, 
15 
dispensation, and sale of medical cannabis by authorized 
16 
hospitals, clinics, drugstores, accredited dispensaries and 
17 
other related health facilities and other related private 
18 
entities. The MCO and DDB shall establish and maintain an 
19 
information system, especially to track cannabis growth 
20 
from seed to sale for monitoring and regulation purposes;  
21 
(d) Issue authorizations and licenses to qualified hospitals, 
22 
clinics, drugstores, and other related health facilities where 
23 
medical cannabis may be accessed by qualified patients; 
24 


 
7 
 
(e) Issue accreditation of physicians as medical cannabis 
1 
professionals; 
2 
(f) Issue guidelines for and authorize or accredit public and 
3 
private entities which shall venture into research and 
4 
development of medical cannabis;  
5 
(g) Conduct, initiate, or support policy studies, program 
6 
monitoring and evaluations and other researches on medical 
7 
cannabis;  
8 
(h) Prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing 
9 
the accessibility of medical cannabis in authorized hospitals, 
10 
clinics, drugstores, accredited dispensaries and other 
11 
medical facilities; 
12 
(i) Endorse and recommend to the Commission on Higher 
13 
Education (CHED) the adoption into the curriculum of 
14 
universities and colleges of agriculture, medicine, and 
15 
applied sciences and technology a subject or course on 
16 
medical cannabis relevant to the academic degree taken by 
17 
the students; and  
18 
(j) Perform such other similar functions to ensure effective and 
19 
efficient implementation of this Act. 
20 
 
SEC. 7. Access, Dispensation, and Monitoring of Medical 
21 
Cannabis. – The MCO shall that medical cannabis shall only be 
22 
accessed through hospitals, clinics, drugstores, and other medical 
23 
facilities authorized and licensed by the MCO for the use of qualified 
24 


 
8 
 
patients. It shall also ensure that only accredited physicians shall 
1 
prescribe medical cannabis to qualified patients enough supply of the 
2 
medicine to last not more than one (1) year.  
3 
 
The MCO shall ensure that appropriate dispensation of medical 
4 
cannabis through an accredited licensed pharmacist in authorized 
5 
hospitals, clinics, drugstores, and other medical facilities, and shall 
6 
not release more than the prescribed dosage. The MCO shall 
7 
establish a monitoring system that includes information such as 
8 
name, address of the qualified patient and the physician, diagnosis, 
9 
medical cannabis product and formulation, and date of dispensation 
10 
in strict observance of RA 10173, otherwise known as the "Data 
11 
Privacy Act of 2012".  
12 
 
SEC. 8. Role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). – 
13 
The FDA shall, pursuant to its mandate under its Charter, ensure the 
14 
safety, efficacy and quality of drugs made available to the public. It 
15 
shall ensure that such products are organic, free from pesticides, 
16 
heavy metals, and microorganisms. The FDA shall also ensure that 
17 
all medical cannabis products conform with the labelling and 
18 
packaging requirements of the agency: Provided, That if a medical 
19 
cannabis product has been determined to be effective and safe and 
20 
duly registered in the country from where the medical cannabis shall 
21 
be imported, such determination shall be adopted by the FDA unless 
22 
there is strong evidence to the contrary.  
23 


 
9 
 
The MCO shall ensure that the FDA performs this specific 
1 
function in the most expeditious way to ensure availability of medical 
2 
cannabis to the qualified patients. 
3 
 
SEC. 9. Role of the Commission on Higher Education. –  
4 
The CHED shall, in consultation with the DOH, through the MCO, 
5 
develop and include in the curriculum of the colleges of agriculture, 
6 
medicine, and applied sciences and technology, a subject or course 
7 
on medical cannabis relevant to the academic degree taken by 
8 
students. 
9 
 
SEC. 
10. 
Cultivation, 
Importation, 
Production, 
and 
10 
Distribution. – The MCO with the DDB shall issue guidelines on the 
11 
cultivation, importation, production, and distribution of medical 
12 
cannabis which shall be included in the implementing rules of this 
13 
Act. It shall also identify specific areas allowable for the cultivation of 
14 
medical cannabis: Provided, That the cultivation shall only be 
15 
permitted in a closed-locked facility.  
16 
 
SEC. 11. Research. – The MCO may, subject to the guidelines 
17 
it shall promulgate, authorize government and accredited private 
18 
institutions, state colleges and universities, and qualified physicians 
19 
to conduct research on the medical use of cannabis. The DOH shall, 
20 
through the MCO, provide the necessary funding to support the 
21 
conduct of government research. The aforementioned entities may 
22 


 
10 
 
receive grants, subject to existing policies, which shall be exclusively 
1 
used for research purposes.  
2 
 
SEC. 12. Annual Report. – The MCO shall, through the DOH, 
3 
submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines, the 
4 
Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.  
5 
 
SEC. 13. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – A 
6 
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on Medical 
7 
Cannabis is hereby created to conduct an annual review of the 
8 
implementation of this Act. It shall adopt its internal rules of 
9 
procedure, conduct hearings and receive testimonies, reports, 
10 
technical advice or summon by subpoena ad testificandum any 
11 
public official, private citizen, or any other person to testify before it, 
12 
or require any person by subpoena duces tecum, documents or other 
13 
materials as it may require consistent with the provisions of this Act.  
14 
 
The JCOC shall be assisted by a secretariat to be composed of 
15 
personnel who may be seconded from the Senate and the House of 
16 
Representatives as may be determined by the respective chairpersons 
17 
of the JCOC.  
18 
 
The JCOC shall be jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the 
19 
Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the Committee on 
20 
Public 
Order 
and 
Dangerous 
Drugs, 
and 
the 
House 
of 
21 


 
11 
 
Representatives Committee on Health and the Committee on 
1 
Dangerous Drugs. It shall be composed of five (5) members from the 
2 
Senate and five (5) from the House of Representatives to be appointed 
3 
by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of 
4 
Representatives respectively. Provided, That the members from the 
5 
minority bloc shall be represented in accordance with the Rules of the 
6 
Senate and the House of Representatives. 
7 
 
SEC. 14. Prohibited Acts. – The following acts shall be 
8 
prohibited under this Act:  
9 
 
(a) Importation, 
cultivation, 
manufacture, 
storage 
and 
10 
distribution of medical cannabis, its products, or derivative 
11 
without permit from the MCO;  
12 
(b) Selling of or trading with medical cannabis to patients, 
13 
doctors, drugstores, hospitals, clinics, dispensaries and 
14 
other medical facilities without authority, license or 
15 
accreditation from the MCO;  
16 
(c) Planting and growing for research and development without 
17 
authority from the MCO; 
18 
(d) Prescription and administration of medical cannabis by non-
19 
accredited physician;  
20 
(e) Prescription and administration of medical cannabis for 
21 
more than one (1) year by accredited physician;  
22 


 
12 
 
(f) Use of medical cannabis without prescription or use beyond 
1 
the prescribed dosage; and  
2 
(g) Other analogous acts performed without authority by the 
3 
MCO under this Act. 
4 
 
SEC. 15. Penalties. – Any person who commits any prohibited act 
5 
under the preceding section shall, upon conviction and final 
6 
judgment, be punished with a fine ranging from Five hundred 
7 
thousand 
pesos 
(Php500,000.00), 
to 
One 
million 
pesos 
8 
(Php1,000,000.00) o1 imprisonment ranging from six (6) months to 
9 
six (6) years at the discretion of the court. The said penalties carry 
10 
with it the suspension or revocation of professional license or 
11 
accreditation of the facilities.  
12 
 
If the offender is a corporation, the officers found to be 
13 
responsible for the violation shall be held liable and penalized under 
14 
this Act.  
15 
 
Nothing in this Act excludes or exempts the offender from the 
16 
penalty imposed under RA 9165, other penal laws, and applicable 
17 
laws on medical practice.  
18 
 
SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within 
19 
ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH shall, in 
20 
consultation with the DDB, DA, FDA, Philippine Drug Enforcement 
21 


 
13 
 
Agency and other concerned agencies, promulgate the necessary 
1 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.  
2 
 
SEC. 17. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the 
3 
initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current 
4 
year's appropriation of the departments and agencies concerned. 
5 
Thereafter, such amount shall be included in the annual General 
6 
Appropriations Act.  
7 
 
SEC. 18. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part of 
8 
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts 
9 
or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.  
10 
 
SEC. 19. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules 
11 
and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of 
12 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
13 
 
SEC. 20. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
14 
days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a 
15 
newspaper of general circulation. 
16 
 
Approved,