I HAVE always been and still am an advocate for the decriminalization and legalization of the use of marijuana both medical and recreational.

In view of developments in Congress and just recently with the Dangerous Drugs Board or DDB, Moi believes that it is high time (pun intended) that we once more enlighten the natives.

Excerpts from the Aug. 6, 2019 issue of the Manila Times:

Bill on medical marijuana pushed a new

Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano has not given up on his bid to legalize medical marijuana.

He refilled a bill previously authored by his brother Rodolfo Albano, seeking to provide Filipinos the right of access to medical marijuana.

House Bill 279, or the “Philippine Medical Cannabis Compassionate Act”, seeks to grant access to medical cannabis “as a compassionate alternative means of medical treatment, expanding research into its medicinal properties and for other purposes.”

“Its objective is for the patient to have access to safe, affordable, available medicinal cannabis prescribed by a registered physician in cases where cannabis has been found to be effective in prevention, treatment and management of specified symptoms, illnesses and diseases,” Albano said in his explanatory note.

And just recently excerpts from the Feb. 16, 2020 issue of The Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Dangerous Drugs Board OKs cannabis use for epilepsy

It’s one small step, but it’s practically one foot in the door.

Advocates pushing for the legalization of cannabis as medicine scored a virtual victory when the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) recently approved “in principle” a resolution to allow the use of cannabidiol (CBD) for alleviating severe forms of epilepsy.

The DDB is the government’s policy-making and strategy-formulating body on the prevention and control of drug abuse.

Among hundreds of components in cannabis, CBD, a pain reliever, is one of the two most active, the other being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which produces the “high” or its psychoactive effects.

A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) says: “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential … To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”

There has been scientific proof that CBD — which is derived from the hemp plant, a “cousin” of cannabis — alleviates seizures in people with epilepsy.

No, this is not just about the legalization of “medical marijuana”, this is also about the legalization of “recreational marijuana”. Yup, you got it right, I am for the legalization of marijuana both for recreational and medical purposes or simply put, people should have the right to get “high” without fear of being arrested.

Am I offending your sensibilities? If so, then you are a hypocrite. Everyday millions of people get drunk or smoke cigarettes legally, how come you’re not offended or angry?

It is a fact that alcohol and cigarettes can kill you. Millions of people have already died from drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco while it is also a fact that nobody died from smoking marijuana.

Ther are some straight, hard facts to ponder upon. According to www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/:

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including nearly 42,000 deaths resulting from second-hand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually, or 1,300 deaths every day. On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

And herb.co says: How many people have died overdosing on marijuana? The short answer is Zero.

Unsurprisingly to marijuana lovers around the world, there has yet to be a single reported death linked to cannabis overdose. In fact, you would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times your average dose in order for marijuana to kill you. That would be about 1,500 pounds of marijuana in 15 minutes.

Yes, marijuana is a plant, it’s not a drug which makes one wonder who was that idiot who classified it as a dangerous drug! As a plant, marijuana is no different from your alogbate or talong, you can eat them but you just can’t smoke alogbate (although some people have been smoking talong, but that’s an entirely different story).

According to www.njweedman.com: “Marijuana is not addictive. Most users are moderate consumers who only smoke it socially occasionally to relax. We now know that 10 percent of our population have ‘addiction personalities’, and they are no more or less likely to abuse cannabis than anything else. On a relative scale, marijuana is less habit-forming than either sugar or chocolate. Sociologists report a general pattern of marijuana usage that peaks in the early adult years, followed by a period of levelling off, and finally a gradual reduction in use.”

“Marijuana does not cause violence. The only crime most marijuana users commit is using marijuana. The US Shafer Commission report was the most comprehensive study ever undertaken on the subject. It found that marijuana smokers “tend to be under represented” in violence and in crime, especially when compared to users of alcohol, amphetamines and barbiturates. “The simple fact is that marijuana does not change your basic personality.” The American federal government reports that over 70 million Americans have smoked it … probably including some of the nicest people you know.”.

I sincerely hope that these facts presented will give you a better understanding of marijuana other than the false myth created by totally ignorant and stupid politicians. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)