MANILA — The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, together with the Committee on Health led by Manila Rep. Giselle Mary Maceda, approved a consolidated bill allowing access to medical cannabis, subject to style and amendments.

The measure consolidates House Bills 193, 2861, 367, 420, 1115, and 3864. The authors cited studies highlighting the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis for patients suffering from conditions such as epilepsy, cancer, glaucoma, nervous system damage, and multiple sclerosis.

A similar measure was approved under the previous Congress but was not enacted into law.

Maceda said the bill recognizes medical cannabis as an alternative treatment to manage neuropathic and chronic pain while implementing strict regulations to prevent abuse.

“The main goal is to make medical cannabis accessible both in terms of affordability and availability,” Maceda said, noting that it would be offered in pharmaceutical dosage forms.