Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
1" Regular Session

House Bill No. 193

Introduced by Representatives EDVIC G. YAP

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Since time immemorial, the use of medicinal plants and herbs to treat ailments and
chronic pains has been vastly used by humanity. Such practice is not only limited to
commonly known medical herbs in the country such a Lagundi, ginger, among
others. Historically, the use of marijuana, which contains the compound Cannabidiol
(CBD), has been customary in some parts of Central Asia in treating various
diseases.

At present, marijuana legalization and decriminalization are constantly evolving
around the world. Some countries have fully legalized recreational marijuana, while
others have only approved medical use. The clamor towards the legalization of
medical marijuana in the country remains, primarily due to the compound found in
the plant, the compound Cannabidiol (CBD). Preliminary studies have shown that
medical marijuana can be used in treating epileptic seizutes, muscle spasms due to
multiple sclerosis, chronic pain in chemotherapy patients, to name a few.

No less than the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through Director Jesusa
Cirunay, expresses support for the legalization of medical cannabis as long as they
are made available in a pharmaceutical or dosage form like tablets or injectables.
Similarly, the Department of Health (DOH), through Director Rodley Carza,
acknowledges the use of medical cannabis as long as they are in pharmaceutical
form and shall be placed in regulation for therapeutic use to the FDA.

It is in this regard that this bill seeks to legalize and regulate the medical use of
cannabis which has been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to
debilitating medical conditions, thereby increasing the country’s access to alternative
medicine but with the surveillance and - the government.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
1" Regular Session

House Bill No. 193

Introduced by Representatives EDVIC G. YAP

AN ACT
PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE AND RIGHT OF ACCESS TO MEDICAL
CANNABIS, 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
Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act".

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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, quaza, 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 s a reefer, resin, extract, tincture or in any form.
whatsoever;

°)

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

f) Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee established under this Act; n
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 PEA licensed and DOH registered
physician to qualified patients. In no instance shall cannabis be used in its raw
form;

&) Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center (MCCC) refers to an entity duly
registered and licensed by the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency (POEA) 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.

SEC. 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 lead in the formulation of rules and regulations to
implement this Act.

b) 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.

) 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.

SEC. 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.

SEC. 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

©) 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;

(0) recommended form and dosage of medical cannabis;

(d) an attestation that the qualified physician is actively registered with the
DOH;

(€) issue and expiry date of the certification; and

( name, address, telephone number, handwritten signature and PRC, DOH
registration number and PEA license numbers of the qualified medical
cannabis physician.

SEC. 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 but is
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.

SEC. 8. Medical Cannabis Patient Caregiver. - The qualified patient's
caregiver shall be a registered nurse duly licensed by the PEA 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

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

SEC. 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 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 ID 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.

SEC. 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 so 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)

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)

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;

f) The sufficiency of the applicant's measures for safety, security, and
Prevention of diversion, theft, 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 MCC 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.

SEC. 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 S3 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
MOCC 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 RA 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 shall 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 PEA shall have access to MCCC'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.

SEC. 12. Electronic Verification. - The Prescription Monitoring System
established by the DOH shall be made accessible to the PDA 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.

SEC. 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 PEA 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.

SEC. 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 elective 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 confirm to existing packaging and labelling
requirements of the FDA.

SEC. 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;


©) A registered 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.

SEC. 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.

qualified medical cannabis physician to:

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.

A registered 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;

10


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.

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

e) 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
toa person who is not a qualified medical cannabis patient.

f) 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) 4Falsifies an identification card issued by the DOH or an $3 license
from the PEA 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 falsified
identification card shall be presumed the author thereof.

SEC. 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;

2) 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;

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

SEC. 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.

2


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.

SEC. 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;

°)

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;

£) Number of registered MCCCs;

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

h) Other pertinent information.

SEC. 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 shail be
jointly chaired by the Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Health and
Demography and the House of Representatives Committee on Health.

SEC. 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 is
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 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.

13


SEC. 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.

SEC. 25. Repealing 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 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. 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,

14