Sen. Robin Padilla pushed anew on Thursday for the use of medical cannabis, citing various benefits from it.

“Ito na ang pinakamura at pinaka-epektibo na puwede pong i-subsidize ng gobyerno,” Padilla said in an event.

Padilla has filed Senate Bill 2573 or the Cannabis Medicalization Act of the Philippines which is pending in the Senate plenary.

He said this is the first time that a bill on medical cannabis has reached the Senate floor.

“Sa matagal na panahon po lagi po itong umaabot ng third reading sa House pero pagdating po sa Senate hindi po ito tumatakbo. Siguro po dahil sa generation gap dahil matagal sa panahon na 'yung mga nakaupo din sa ating senador, sa atin pong mataas na Kapulungan ay medyo nakatatanda,” Padilla said.

“Ang mga nakaupo po ngayon na mga senador ay mas ka-edad po natin, mas naiintindihan na po nila kung ano ang benepisyo ng cannabis. Kaya po ngayon umabot na po kami sa interpellation,” he added.

Padilla said enacting a law on medical cannabis will  help patients, particularly children and their family, who have a difficult time acquiring it.

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This was seconded by Dr. Shiksha Gallow, a cannabis clinician, who said now is the time for the Philippines to embrace medical cannabis.  

“It’s time because patients need it, the science supports it,” Gallow said.

According to Gallow who administers medical cannabis to her patients, it can be used for various conditions such as chronic pain, auto-immune inflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, insomnia, epilepsy, cancer, ADHD and autism.

“Thailand has opened up cannabis but now it’s time for the Philippines to give it a try. I believe Philippines can lead medical cannabis in Asia,” Gallow said.

She admitted that cannabis is addictive with a rate of 7 percent but stressed that it is less addictive than caffeine which has an addictive rate of 9 percent, alcohol which is at 20 percent and nicotine at 30 percent.

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“So why are we demonizing something that is less addictive than the cup of coffee on your table?” Gallow asked.

Padilla said if his bill does not get passed under the 19th Congress, he will refile it in the 20th.