Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

“RECEIVED 2)
DA pacers: 14 2022

, Te ee *

NINETEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

House BLN. 2007

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The use of medicinal plants and herbs to treat ailments and chronic pain has
been used by humanity for thousands of years, some of which prevail today such as
the use of Lagundi for cough and asthma, ginger for nausea and inflammation and
the likes. Likewise, the use of marijuana to treat ailments has been around for
centuries, as its first documented case dates back millennia in central Asia.

In the United States of America, thirty-seven (37) states, four (4) territories,
and the District of Columbia, have legalized the use of medical marijuana for
prescription use as the compound Cannabidiol (CBD) found in the plant has shown
promise in treating epileptic seizures. Preliminary studies have also shown that
medical marijuana can be used to treat muscle spasms in patients suffering from
multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain in chemotherapy patients.

‘As of 2022, over thirty (30) countries have also legalized its use in treating
several diseases and have appropriated funds into further research, the latest of
which is Thailand when it scrapped the plant from its list of narcotics on June 9,
making its import, export, production, distribution, consumption and possession legal
with the intent of promoting its medical use and boosting the income of growers.

The number of Filipino families living in poverty increased within the last few
years due to the global recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the passage
of the Universal Health Care Law, many Filipino households stil find conventional
medicine and treatments inaccessible due to its high price tag and other budgetary
constraints.

It is the hope of this representation that the passage of this bill can offer our
countrymen with affordable alternative medicine, and provide a proper and safe way
to access medical cannabis. Placing transactions, and use, under stringent
government regulation will not deter Filipinos who may need alternative sources of
pain-relief from purchasing unregulated cannabis illegally.

This bill does not condone the use of recreational drugs as it provides strict
guidelines, protocols, and penalties to ensure that medical cannabis will not be
abused.

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

a
REYES
Represen fative, AnaKalusugan Partylist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2007

Introduced by Rep. Ray Florence T. Reyes

AN ACT PROVIDING RIGHT OF ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS AS A
COMPASSIONATE ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT, EXPANDING
RESEARCH INTO ITS MEDICINAL PROPERTIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Philippine Medical
Cannabis Compassionate Act".

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Pursuant to Section 11, Article XIII of the 1987
Philippine Constitution, it shall be 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.

Furthermore, in accordance with Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9165 or the
Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act as amended, the State shall provide measures
to achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that patients with a
debilitating medical condition may receive adequate amount of treatment and appropriate
medications from the regulated use of dangerous drugs.

Finally, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8423 or the Traditional and Alternative Medicine
Act (TAMA) of 1997 provides that it shall be the policy of the State to improve the
quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people through the
development of traditional and alternative health care and its integration into the
national health care delivery system. It also provides that the State shall seek a
legally workable basis by which indigenous societies would own their knowledge of
traditional medicine.

Toward this end, the State shall legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis
which has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to a debilitating
medical condition. This will complement conventional health care and will be the
medicine of last resort as certified by registered qualified medical cannabis


physicians to qualified patients if and when standard medical treatment options are
deemed ineffective based on indications and criteria determined by the Department
of Health in consultation with the Food and Drug Administration.

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

a) Bona fide relationship refers to a continuing physician and patient
relationship wherein a registered physician has made a complete
assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical
condition, including an appropriate diagnostic and personal physical
examination sufficient to determine that the patient is suffering from a
debilitating medical condition;

b) Cannabis refers to every kind, class, genus, specie of the plant
Cannabis, hashish, bhang, guaza, churrus, ganjab, and embraces
every kind, class and character of marijuana, whether dried or fresh
and flowering, 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,

c) Closed Locked 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 Compassionate Center cultivation
site and dispensary; or an outdoor area with an enclosed perimeter by
chain-link fencing, wooden slats, or a similar material that prevents
access by the general public and fully equipped with functioning
security devices that permit access only to authorized personnel of the
Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center cultivation site and
dispensary;

d) Compassionate refers to an act of showing compassion and sympathy
to a person suffering from a debilitating medical condition with a desire
to treat or alleviate his/her condition;

e) Debilitating medical condition refers to any disease that produces one
or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe and
chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, or severe and persistent muscle
spasms. Debilitating medical conditions include the following
diseases: (1) Cancer; (2) Glaucoma; (3) Multiple sclerosis; (4)
Damage to the nervous system of the spinal cord, with objective
neurological indication of intractable spasticity; (5) Epilepsy; (6)
Positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); (7) Post-traumatic stress
disorder, (8) Rheumatoid arthritis or similar chronic autoimmune
inflammatory disorders; (9) Diseases requiring admission into
hospice care; and (10) Any other debilitating medical condition that
is subsequently identified by the Department of Health through the
Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee established under this Act;


f) Medical Cannabis refers to cannabis products such as capsules
and oil in their pharmaceutical formulation which shall have detailed
and accurate information regarding the concentration of
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) certified by the
PDEA licensed and DOH registered physician to qualified patients.
In no instance shall cannabis be used in its raw form;

9g) Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center (MCCC) refers to an
entity duly registered and licensed by the Department of Health
(DOH) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to acquire,
possess, deliver, transfer, transport, cultivate, manufacture, store,
import, sell, supply and dispense medical cannabis;

h) Medical use refers to the use of medical cannabis to treat or
alleviate a registered qualified patient's debilitating medical
condition or symptoms associated with his debilitating medical
condition, and shall include its acquisition, possession,
transportation, delivery, dispensation, administration, cultivation, or
manufacturing for medical purposes; and

i) Written Certification refers to a document dated and signed by a
registered qualified medical cannabis physician certifying that the
qualifying patient has any of the debilitating medical condition under
Section 3 (e) and recommends the use of medical cannabis to treat
or alleviate the latter's condition. Provided, That a written
certification shall be made only in the course of a bona fide
physician - patient relationship.

SECTION 4. Role of Agencies. - The following agencies shall perform the
following roles and responsibilities:

a) Department of Health (DOH). - The DOH shall be the principal regulatory
agency in the access and use of medical cannabis. It shall register and
issue licenses to qualified entities engaged in activities related to the use
of medical cannabis, establish a Prescription Monitoring System and
maintain an electronic database of registered medical cannabis patients,
physicians, caregivers and other qualified entities for monitoring and
regulation purposes.

The Secretary of the DOH, herein referred to as the Secretary, shall take the
Jead in the formulation of rules and regulations to implement this Act.

a) Food and Drug Administration (FDA). - The FDA shall be the regulatory
agency tasked to undertake testing of medical cannabis products to
determine its potency, consistency, safe and effective use, as well as
compliance with packaging and labelling safety requirements. It shall


ensure that all medical cannabis products are organic, pesticide free,
gluten free, safe, effective, and tested prior to distribution, dispensation and
sale.

b) Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA). - The DDB and PDEA shall have a key role in monitoring and
regulating the importation, cultivation, manufacture, storage, distribution,
prescription, dispensation and sale of medical cannabis by registered
Medical Cannabis Compassionate Centers (MCCCs). It shall establish
and maintain an information system especially to track cannabis growth
from seed to sale for monitoring and regulation purposes.

SECTION 5. Advisory Committee on Medical Use of Cannabis. - There is
hereby established in the DOH an Advisory Committee on the medical use of
cannabis, hereinafter referred to as the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee,
which shall assist and provide directions in the formulation, implementation and
assessment of the policies, guidelines and regulations covered under this Act.

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

The Secretary shall appoint the other members of the Medical Cannabis Advisory
Committee who shall serve for a term of three (3) years. It shall comprise of three
(3) health care practitioners, two (2) experts in the regulation of controlled
substances for medical use, who 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; and
two (2) representatives from a nationally recognized organization of patients with
debilitating medical conditions. The non-ex officio members shall nominate a
Vice-Chairperson from among themselves, and shall receive an honoraria in
accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations.

The Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee shall meet once a month or as often
as necessary at the discretion of the Chairman. The presence of six (6) members
shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 6. Qualified Medical Cannabis Physician. - To be considered
competent to certify a patient’s medical need to use cannabis for treatment and
issue a corresponding written certification to that effect, a physician must register
with the DOH and possess the following qualifications:

a) Has an established bona fide relationship with the patient;

b) Is licensed by the PDEA to prescribe dangerous drugs; and


c) Has the professional qualification, credential, training and experience to treat
any of the debilitating medical conditions enumerated under Section 3 (e) of
this Act.

Provided, That a qualified medical cannabis physician may not issue a written
certification for his own use, immediate family or relatives within the fourth civil degree
of consanguinity or affinity.

The qualified medical cannabis physician shall maintain a record of all his issued
written certifications. He shall be responsible for the submission of a clinical study
report to the DOH for every qualified patient which he certified or prescribed the use
of medical cannabis specifically describing the quantity administered/use,
therapeutic/desired effect and any adverse reaction, at the end of each year.

The written certification issued by the qualified medical cannabis physician shall be
valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance unless in his professional opinion, the
qualified patient would benefit from medical cannabis only until a specified date so
stated in the written certification; or sooner revoked by reason of misuse or diversion
of the written certification; or failure to abide by the prescribed dosage and form; or
the qualified patient no longer suffers from a debilitating medical condition or has not
received therapeutic or palliative benefit from the use of medical cannabis; or when
the qualified patient has died. The written certification may be renewed for another
year subject to the conduct of appropriate diagnostic and physical examinations to
completely assess the medical condition of the qualified patient.

For this purpose, the DOH shall develop a standard form of written certification which
shall be made available to qualified medical cannabis physicians. The written
certification shall include the following details: (a) name, date of birth and address of
the qualified patient; (b) a statement that the qualified patient has any of the
debilitating medical condition provided in Section 3 (e) and that the qualified patient
is under the qualified medical cannabis physician's care for the debilitating medical
condition; (c) recommended form and dosage of medical cannabis; (d) an attestation
that the qualified physician is actively registered with the DOH; (e) issue and expiry
date of the certification; and (f) name, address, telephone number, handwritten
signature and PRC, DOH registration number and PDEA license numbers of the
qualified medical cannabis physician.

SECTION 7. Qualified Medical Cannabis Patient. - A qualified medical cannabis
patient means a person who has been diagnosed by a certifying qualified physician
as having a debilitating medical condition as defined in Section 3 (e) and who, in the
qualified physician's professional evaluation, should receive therapeutic or palliative
benefits from the medical use of cannabis.

If the qualified patient is below eighteen (18) years of age or above 18 butis incapable
or incapacitated to fully give his consent, the certifying qualified physician is
mandated to explain to the patient as well as to the custodial parent or legal guardian
who has the responsibility to make health care decisions on behalf of the qualified
patient the potential risks and benefits of medical cannabis. The custodial parent or


legal guardian shall signify, in writing, their consent to allowing the qualified patient's
medical use of cannabis.

SECTION 8. Medical Cannabis Patient Caregiver. - The qualified patient's
caregiver shall be a registered nurse duly licensed by the PDEA to administer medical
cannabis and has registered with the DOH to engage in the use of medical cannabis.
He/she must be at least 21 years of age and must not have been convicted of any
offense under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act
as amended.

The qualified caregiver shall give consent in writing to perform the following:
a) Assist the qualified patient in the medical use of cannabis;

b) Not divert the medical cannabis in one’s possession to any person other than
the patient; and

c) Assist only one (1) cannabis patient at a time.

SECTION 9. Identification Cards. - The DOH shall issue registry identification (ID)
cards to qualified medical cannabis patients and caregivers upon compliance with
DOH documentary requirements and the provisions of this Act as well as the
implementing rules and regulations.

The registry ID card shall contain the following: name of the cardholder, designation
whether the cardholder is the qualified patient or caregiver, date of issuance and
expiration, assigned unique alphanumeric identification number and photograph of
the cardholder. This registry ID card must be presented to MCCCs prior to
dispensation of medical cannabis and must be kept in possession of the cardholder,
at all times, while engaging in the use of medical cannabis.

The registry 1D card shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance or an
earlier date as stated in the written certification, and renewable upon submission of
the requirements set forth in the implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 10. Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center (MCCC). - An entity shall
operate as a Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center after registration and
obtaining licenses from the DOH and PDEA.

The Secretary shall establish a system, in coordination with PDEA, for the evaluation
of application and licensing of a Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center based on
the following criteria:

a) The suitability of the applicant's proposed location including compliance
with any local zoning laws and geographic convenience to patients;

b) The qualification, character, and relevant experience of principal officers
and board members, including any training or professional licensing


related to medicine, pharmaceuticals, natural treatments, botany, or
cannabis cultivation and preparation and their experiences in running a
health or medical center. Provided, That no principal officer or board
member must have been convicted of any offense under Republic Act No.
9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act as amended;

The sufficiency of the applicant's capital to operate. For this purpose, the
applicant shall satisfy the minimum capital requirement and payment of
registration fee laid down in the implementing rules and regulations;

¢

d) The applicant's effective and efficient system of operations and services,
including its staffing and training plans, and its ability to provide an
adequate and affordable supply of medical cannabis to registered patients;
Provided, That no employee or staff must have been convicted of any
offense under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act as amended;

e) The sufficiency of the applicant's procedure for accurate record keeping
and reporting;

The sufficiency of the applicant's measures for safety, security, and
prevention of diversion, theft and unauthorized entrance, including
proposed locations, and security devices;

g) The applicant's procedure for safe and accurate packaging and labelling
of medical cannabis, including measures to ensure that all medical
cannabis are free from contaminants; and

h) The applicant's assurance that all medical cannabis products being used
are organic, pesticide free, gluten free, and that no chemicals have been
used in the extraction process as certified by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).

Provided, That only Five (5) MCCCs nationwide shall be initially registered and
licensed to engage in the manufacture, cultivation, importation, sale and
dispensation of medical cannabis. After one (1) year of effective implementation
of this Act, a review shall be conducted for purposes of determining the need of
increasing the number of MCCCs.

To ensure that MCCCs are geographically distributed and accessible to qualified
patients, the five (5) MCCCs shall be distributed as follows: Two (2) in the
National Capital Region; One (1) in Luzon; One (1) in Visayas and One (1) in
Mindanao. The registration and license of MCCC shall be renewed annually.
Provided, further, That only medical cannabis products actually imported, grown,
cultivated, manufactured, packed and labelled by an MCCC may be dispensed and
sold in its own dispensary facility.


SECTION 11. Access to Medical Cannabis. - Medical cannabis shall only be
accessed through Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center dispensaries.

‘An MCCC shall guarantee the appropriate dispensation of medical cannabis through
a pharmacist with an S-3 license issued by the PDEA and shall not release more than
the prescribed dosage for one (1) month to a qualified patient or caregiver. The
MCCC shall comply with this limitation by encoding or entering all dispensed medical
cannabis in the Prescription Monitoring System which shall be established and
maintained by the DOH. Said system shall include information such as name,
address, ID number of the physician, patient, caregiver, diagnosis, medical cannabis
product and formulation, and date of dispensation. All information, entries and
records obtained are deemed confidential and protected under R.A. No. 10173
otherwise known as the "Data Privacy Act of 2012" and shall not be combined or
linked in any manner with any other list or database and shalll not be disclosed to any
individual, public or private entity, except as provided under this Act.

Provided, That prior to dispensation, the qualified patient or his qualified caregiver
must be able to present the qualified physician's written certification and valid registry
ID card as specified under Sections 6 and 9 of this Act

The DOH and PDEA shall have access to MCC's records and premises at any time
of the day or night whenever work is being undertaken therein, and to question any
employee and investigate any fact, condition or matter which may be necessary to
determine violations or which may aid in the enforcement of this Act or its rules and
regulations issued pursuant thereto.

SECTION 12. Electronic Verification. - The Prescription Monitoring System
established by the DOH shall be made accessible to the PDEA Compliance Service
and MCCCs where it may electronically verify and determine the validity of the
registry ID card and information whether the cardholder is a registered qualified
patient or caregiver.

SECTION 13. Cultivation, Importation, Production and Distribution. - The DDB
shall assist in the formulation of guidelines, in coordination with other government
agencies, with respect to cultivation, importation, production and distribution of
medical cannabis which shall be included in the Implementing Rules and Regulations
of this Act. It shall also identify specific areas allowable for the cultivation of cannabis;
Provided, That cultivation shall only be permitted in a closed locked 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 or university, day care center, child care
facility or an area zoned for residential use.

The PDEA shall issue appropriate license and permit for the cultivation,
importation, 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 establishment of a cannabis plant
monitoring system. The Cannabis Plant Monitoring System is a system for


testing and data collection established and maintained by the cultivation facility
and 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.

To ensure compliance with the provisions of this Act, the PDEA may at all times
enter every building, room, enclosure, or premises occupied or used for the
cultivation, production, preparation, manufacture for sale, storage, sale of
medical cannabis, to inspect the premises and all utensils, fixtures, furniture, and
machinery used for the preparation of thereof.

SECTION 14. Testing of Medical Cannabis. - The FDA shall test all medical
cannabis prior to its distribution, dispensation and sale to determine its potency,
consistency, safe and effective use. It shall ensure that all medical cannabis are
organic, pesticide free, gluten free and safe for use.

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

SECTION 15. Exemption from Civil and Criminal Liability. - The following shall
be exempt from civil and criminal liability:

a) The certifying qualified physician for issuing written certifications stating
that in the physician's professional opinion, a patient is qualified to receive
therapeutic or palliative benefit from the medical use of cannabis to treat
or alleviate the patient's debilitating medical condition or symptoms:
Provided, That the physician must have established a bona fide
relationship with the patient and conducted a thorough clinical analysis of
the patient's medical conditions;

b) A qualified patient for using medical cannabis in the prescribed dosage
and form for treatment of his debilitating medical condition as determined
and certified by a bona fide recommending qualified physician;

c) Aregistered cannabis caregiver for assisting a registered qualified patient
and for possessing not more than the exact prescribed dosage of cannabis
needed by the qualifying patient; and

d) A duly licensed MCCC and its personnel authorized to dispense medical
cannabis as provided under Section 11 of this Act.

SECTION 16. Prohibited Acts.- It shall be prohibited for:

a) A qualified patient to:


1. Possess or smoke cannabis:

2. Operate, navigate, or being in actual physical control of any motor vehicle,
aircraft, or motorboat while under the influence of cannabis;

3. Undertake under the influence of cannabis, tasks that would require the
use of body or motor functions impaired by the use of cannabis; and

4. Use cannabis for purposes other than for treatment of a debilitating
medical condition.

b) A qualified medical cannabis physician to:

¢)

4)

e)

i)

1. Certify and prescribe medical cannabis to any person who is not a
qualified patient under this Act;

2. Prescribe medical cannabis to any qualified patient without establishing a
bona fide relationship with said patient;

3. Prescribe the use of medical cannabis for purposes other than for
treatment of a debilitating medical condition;

4. Refer patients or caregivers to a MCCC on which he or she holds any
financial or personal interest; and

5. Fail or refuse to submit the clinical study report referred to under Section
6 of this Act.

Aregistered MCCC to:

1. Acquire, possess, deliver, transfer, transport, supply, or dispense medical
cannabis to any person except to registered qualified patients or through
their registered caregivers;

2. Cultivate, manufacture, store and import cannabis/medical cannabis in
violation of the provisions of this Act and guidelines set in the
implementing rules and regulations;

3. Acquire usable cannabis or mature cannabis plants from other registered
MCCC or illegal sources;

4. Refer patients to an unqualified physician; and

5. Dispensing without presentation of the qualified physician's written
certification and valid registry ID card of the qualified patient or caregiver.

Any physician who prescribes medical cannabis to any person or patient
without the license required in section 6 of this Act.

Any caregiver who administers medical cannabis to any qualified medical
cannabis patient without the required license from the PDEA for the
purpose, or who, with license, but administers medical cannabis to a
person who is not a qualified medical cannabis patient.

Any person, to include foreigners, that


1, Advertise the sale of medical cannabis in printed materials, on radio
or television, social media, internet or by paid-in-person solicitation of
customers. Provided, That this shall not prevent appropriate signs on
the property of the registered MCCC, listings in business directories
including phone books, listings in cannabis-related or medical
publications, or the sponsorship of health or charity or advocacy
events;

2. Violate the confidentiality of information under R.A. 10173, otherwise
known as the “Data Privacy Act of 2012";

3. Purchase of medical cannabis when not authorized to do so; and

4. Falsifies an identification card issued by the DOH or an S-3 license
from the PDEA or possesses a falsified identification card and either
attempts to use the card to obtain medical cannabis or obtains medical
cannabis. Provided, That any person using or possessing a falsified
identification card shall be presumed the author thereof.

SECTION 17. Penalty. - Any person who violates any of the provisions of Section
16 of this Act or its Implementing Rules and Regulations shall, upon conviction
and final judgment, be punished with a fine of Five Hundred Thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) to Ten Million pesos (P10,000,000.00) at the discretion of the
Court. Likewise, the same penalty shall be imposed on:

1. Caregivers in violation of section 8 of this Act; and
2. MCCCs in violation of section 10 and 11 of this Act.

Furthermore, the aforementioned penalty carries with it the suspension or
revocation of professional license or registration of the persons held as offenders
hereof, and the suspension or revocation of the license to operate of any private
entity found in violation of this Act.

In addition, the penalty of life imprisonment shall be imposed on

1. A qualified patient who commits any of the acts prohibited under
paragraphs (a) (1) and (a) (4) of Section 16 of this Act;

1. A qualified medical cannabis physician who commits any of the acts
prohibited under paragraph (b) (1) and (b) (3) of Section 16 of this Act;

2. A caregiver who commits the prohibited acts in paragraph (e) of Section 16 of
this Act; and

3. AMCCC which commits the act prohibited in paragraph (c) (1) of Section 16
of this Act: Provided, That the persons liable shall be the members of the board
of director or executive officers of the MCCC, as the case may be.


SEC. 18. Research. - The DOH shall, within 120 days from the approval of this Act,
authorize the National Institutes of Health, the research arm of the University of the
Philippines, Manila; the Health Sciences Center of the UP System; and the Philippine
Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), to conduct research on
the medical use of cannabis. Participation to any research program on the part of
qualified physicians, patients and caregivers shall be highly encouraged. In order to
carry out this function, the DOH shall provide the necessary funding to support the
conduct of this research. Further, the aforementioned entities may receive grants,
subject to existing policies, which shall be exclusively used for research purposes.

For purposes of medical research and testing, the DDB shall formulate the
regulations in naming the sources and specifying the methods in accessing the
sources of cannabis.

SECTION 19. Training of Medical Cannabis Physicians, Pharmacists and
Caregivers. - The DOH shall develop an appropriate training program for medical
cannabis physicians, pharmacists and caregivers which shall include 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 in the approval of
registration with DOH and renewal of license to prescribe, dispense and administer
medical cannabis to qualified patients.

The DOH shall coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education to integrate the
aforementioned topics on medical cannabis in the medical curriculum of all medical
schools, colleges and universities,

SECTION 20. Reports. - The DOH shall submit an annual report to the Office of the
President and to both Houses of Congress which shall include the following
information:

a) Number of applications and renewals filed for registry identification cards;
b) Number of registered qualified patients at the time of report
c) Nature of debilitating medical conditions of the qualified patients;

d) Number of registry identification cards revoked for misconduct;

e) Number of qualified physicians who issued written certifications for
qualified patients:

f) Number of registered MCCCs;

g) Assessment on the use of medical cannabis, research, and treatment
of patients with debilitating medical condition; and

fh) Other pertinent information.


SECTION 21. 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 (5)
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

SECTION 22. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the DOH, in consultation with the appropriate
government agencies, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the
effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 23. 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.

SECTION 24. 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.

SECTION 25. Repeating Clause. - For purposes of this Act, pertinent provisions
of Republic Act No. 9165, otherwise known as the "Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002," as amended, and alll other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or
parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 26. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,