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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
2nd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP and EDVIC GO 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 seizures, 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 condition, thereby increasing the country’s access to alternative 
medicine but with the surveillance and regulation of the government.  
HON. ERIC GO YAP 
HON. EDVIC GO YAP 
September 4, 2023
11:18 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
2nd Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives ERIC GO YAP and EDVIC GO 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 
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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; 
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 


 
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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; 
g) 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, 


 
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pesticide free, gluten free, safe, effective, and tested prior to distribution, dispensation 
and sale. 
c)  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 


 
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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 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. 


 
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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 
c) 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: 


 
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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; 
c) 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. 
 


 
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               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. 
 
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-


 
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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; 
c) 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 


 
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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. 
b) 
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. 
c) 
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; 
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; 


 
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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 
to a 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 S-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 


 
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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. 
 
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. 
 


 
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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; 
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 
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 shall 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. 
 
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. 
 


 
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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,