DDB mulls allowing medical use of marijuana derivative

The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) is studying the possibility of allowing the medical use of the marijuana derivative cannabidiol (CBD) through the issuance of regulations.

DDB chairman Catalino Cuy said that if the proposed regulation is passed, there would be no need for a separate law on medical marijuana as proposed by some sectors and lawmakers.

“With this regulation, there is no need for a separate medical marijuana law since mechanisms already exist to allow the use of dangerous drug compounds in medicine form,” Cuy said in a statement.

The DDB is considering allowing the use of CBD-based medication which has no more than 0.1 percent tetrahydrocannabinol content, which is the chemical responsible for marijuana’s psychological effects.

The proposed regulation has supposedly been “approved in principle” by the drug policymaking body of the government, for confirmation by the board at its next meeting.

It is in consultation with various sectors to finalize the proposed regulation on the use of CBD in medicine.

Cuy clarified that the use, cultivation and production of marijuana remain illegal in the country, be it for recreational or medical use.

The DDB said only the compound CBD is being considered by the government to be allowed for treatment of certain diseases, such as rare forms of epilepsy like Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet Syndrome.

The DDB earlier passed a board regulation that improved access to some dangerous drugs for medical purposes for patients.

DDB Regulation No. 8, S 2019, provides for the issuance of license to acquire, possess and use drug products containing dangerous drugs that are registered in other countries even if not registered locally for compassionate use.

The DDB has said that the resolution only covers importation of CBD in tablet form and does not legalize the use of marijuana, a power that belongs to Congress. 

Marijuana is one of the prohibited substances under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Possession of at least 500 grams of the substance or at least 10 grams of marijuana concentrate is punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of up to P10 million.