RESEARCH

LEGALIZATION OF
MARIJUANA IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN THE PHILIPPINES

I. Introduction

Marijuana also called weed, herb, pot, grass, bud, ganja, Mary Jane, and a
vast number of other slang terms—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded
leaves and flowers of Cannabis sativa, the hemp plant. Some people smoke marijuana
in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints; many use pipes, water pipes or marijuana cigars
called blunts.

Marijuana can also be used to brew tea and, particularly when it is sold or
consumed for medicinal purposes, is frequently mixed into foods (edibles) such as
brownies, cookies, or candies. Stronger forms of marijuana include sinsemilla tended
and concentrated resins containing high doses of marijuana’s active ingredients,
including honeylike hash oil, waxy budder, and hard amberlike shatter. These resins are
increasingly popular among those who use them both recreationally and medically.

Marijuana is a dangerous and addictive drug that has many consequences to

using it. People debate whether it should be legalized or not due to its pros and
cons. Marijuana should not be legalized because it is a gateway drug to the legalization
of other drugs and has many bad effects on the users of it.

The importance of this study is to contribute knowledge about the good and
bad effect of the legalization of marijuana in the Philippines especially to those students
who are curious about trying this kind of drug. Another importance is that, when this
literature review finish , people will know if they have to support the legalization of
marijuana here in the Philippines or they have to disobey the authorization of this issue.
Also , people will know the effect of marijuana in our body. Marijuana can cause addiction
if people who always use this drug . And also it is not good for our body. Marijuana can
make people become crazy and loss their mind that can cause sometimes in a murder or
crime because they are out of their mind.

The researcher chose this topic is to know how many people are agree in
legalization of marijuana here in the Philippines as medicinal to cure diseases that can
only cure with the help of marijuana. Also to give information to the people who are agree
of legalization of marijuana , to know them that marijuana has a big impact if marijuana is
actually legal in our country. This study was conducted to analyze how informed the
audience is in relation to marijuana and its legalization, particularly on the effects of
marijuana on the users , as well as the effects that marijuana and it’s legalization will
have on the economy.
II. Literature Review

The following studies and research is about the Legalization of Marijuana in the
Philippines . This studies was talking about differrent point of view regards the
legitimation of marijuana in the Philippines.

According to Pete Guither , Anslinger stated that “Marijuana is an addictive drug

which produces in its users insanity , criminality , and death.” He also state that
“Marijuana is the most violence- causing drug in the history of mankind” Marijuana has
been completely legal. Its not a recently discovered plant , nor is it a long - standing law.
Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it’s been in use.

According to Alexis Romero, Duterte stated that Medical marijuana , yes

because it is really an ingredient of modern medicine now .He told that to the reporter
when he asked about his instance on legalizing marijuana. But whoever use marijuana
for recreational purposes will be arrested . He also stated that “ If you just smoke it like a
cigarette , I will not allow it ever It remains to be a prohibited item and there’s always a
threat of being arrested. If you choose to fight the law enforcement agency, you die .” he
added.Duterte is not opposed to the legalization of marijuana for medicinal use but
against if it use for recreational purposes.

Besides according to R. Scott Rappold , A majority of doctors say that medical

marijuana should be legalized nationally and that it can deliver real benefits to patients ,
a ner survey by WebMD/ Medscape. “ The medical community is clearly saying they
support using marijuana as a potential treatment option for any number of medical
problems. In fact , many doctors alreadyprescribe it . But health professionals are still
unclear as to what the long term effects may be.In addition to seizure disorders, medical
marijuana is often used to treat chronic pain from injuries or medical conditions such as
cancer , nausea from medication , and multiple sclerosis.

Furthermore, Tim Bradley said that legalizing recreational marijuana use would
hurt not only those who smoke , it also hurts children and society as a whole . As a
country , if we encourage and profit from this vice, we will be undermining the very
foundations of our government.
On the contrary , According to Nura . is . Beast , Boulder, CO , Marijuana sholud
stay illegal because if it is legalized , more people will smoke it , causing negative effects
on health and families. If marijuana is legalized , people will think smoking marijuana is
something we can do everyday at anytime , which increases drug use. People are going
to smoke marijuana without getting in trouble or getting arrested . Also there is going to
be easier access to marijuana , and it will be cheaper to buy. These same things
happened when alchohol was lagalized. Also , drug dealers can grow marijuana without
getting arrested , and make a bunch of money off of it.

Moreover , according to Anton , there are many harmful effects from chronic use
of marijuana. There are many problems , social and physical, that are effects of from
using marijuana . Due to the negative effects from this substance , the use of marijuana
is should remain illegal.It would bring even more social problems. And there are also
much more serious health risks involving the use of marijuana .

In addition , According to Joyce Ilas , Melgar stated that marijuana can stop
epileptic seizures and can help treat neurophatic diseases such as alzheimer’s and
multiple sclerosis. It can also treat loss of appetite after chemoteraphy or following
treatment for HIV or AIDS. She also mentioned that marijuana has side effect like the
alteration of moods. In fact, among psychotropic drugs such as cocaine, heroin and
methamphetamine , marijuana is the most potent , Melgar added.

According to Thomas Strouse, M. D. , Regular use of marijuana can hasten the

onset of psychotic illnesses. In fact, high-dose THC -one of the most widely studied
molecules in the marijuana plant-has been found to cause acute /transient psychosis.
And there is some conflicting evidence on the dangers of people operating motor
vehicles after using marijuana. Using marijuana is sometimes prone to accident.

According to Seth Motel , attitudes about marijuana have undergone a rapid shift
in public opinion. Marijuana is now legal in some form or descriminalized in 27 states
.Federal law prohibits the possession , selling or harvesting of
marijuan.Descriminalization laws reduce the penalties associated with the use or
possession of small amounts of marijuana.

According to Bong Lozada, Abigail Valte stated that , Marijuana remains a

prohibited substance under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. She also
stressed that Philippine Law enforcers would continue to enforce the anti-illegal drugs
law that prohibits all narcotics , including marijuana , in the country. In Addition , “ This is
just throwing gas on the fire” said Ben Cort Of the Colorado Center for Dependency ,
Addiction and Rehabilitation at the University of colorado Hospital. With Associated
Press.
III. Conclusion

The researcher therefore conclude that Legalization of marijuana in the

Philippines is very controversial issues. And the direction in which the government is
currently heading toward more enforcement and tougher penalties. This direction , however
leads inevitably to a dead-end. In more than 50 years, prohibition of marijuana has failed to
stop marijuana use and abuse . It has instead created a large criminal class out of citizens
who are otherwise law-abiding, peaceful, productive members of society . This literature
review went over the different impacts that the legalization of marijuana would have on the
economy as well as whether is poses a more or less threat that that of already legal
substances.In the survey conducted by the author , it is discovered that people do not know
much about the issue at hand as well as how marijuana compares to that of other already
legal substances. The audience is largely uninformed about marijuana and its proposed
legalization, and little initiative has been taken to assist the process. Legalization of
marijuana here in the Philippines is not yet proven and it is not legalized for now. Many
people are un-informed about this topic ,so the researcher decide to be this topic to inform
people about it. Marijuana has been at a federal law illegal since the 1930’s but now
marijuana legalization seems to be something that is very possible in the near future as
many states by little begin changing their laws from being persuaded by these large
organizations, protests and campaigns.
In the Philippines, as the law stands today, marijuana is illegal. It is a dangerous
drug and the selling/use of marijuana is a criminal offense. Soon it would be completely
legal to use marijuana in the Philippines There are different views and opinions regarding
legalization of marijuana in the Philippines.Some are agree to legalize the marijuana and
some are against on it.
 Overall, Marijuana has a good effects and a bad effects to our body. The good
effect of it , is the it can cure diseases like HIV/ AIDS. Many diseases will be cure with the
help of medicinal marijuana. But if the person take it always , it can cause an addiction.
Maybe they do such a bad things to their fellow man because they are out of their mind.If
marijuana is actually legal in our country there are possibility that the rates of a drug pusher
and user will increase. Marijuana has a bad effect in the body if they take marijuana.
Legalizing of marijuana would also lead to negative effects on family. Legalizing of
marijuana has a big impact in our society if it is totally implemented in our country.

IV. Bibliography

 Thomas,S.(2016, October 12).Marijuanas Public Health Pros and Cons. Retrieved from
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2016-10-12/marijuanas-
public-health-pros-and-cons

 Joyce,I.(2015, June 9).Should Medical Marijuana be Legalized in PH. Retrived from

cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/06/09/Philippines-medical-marijuana-pending-cannabis-
bill-House-of Representatives.html

 Johann, H.(2016,February 02).Why is Marijuana Banned? The Real Reason Are Worse
Than You Think. Retrieved from m.huffpost.com/us/entry/9210248

 Nura, Against Legalizing Marijuana. Retrieved from teenink.com/mobile/311685

 Bong, L. Palace: Marijuana is Illegal in Phiippines.Retrieved from

https://www.google.com.ph/amp/newsinfo.inquirer.net/557109/palace-marijuana-is-
illegal-in-philippines/amp

 Legalize marijuana in the Philippines. Retrieved from attyatwork.com/legalize-marijuana-in-

the-philippines/

 Seth, M.(2015, April 14).6 Facts about Marijuana. Retrieved from

www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/14/6-facts-about-marijuana/
 Tim, B.(2016, October 18). No, We Should Not Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use.
Retrieved from www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2016/10/17898/

 Scott, R.(2014, April 02). Legalize Medical Marijuana, Doctors Say in Survey. Retrieved
from www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20140225/webmd-marijuana-survey-
web

 Alexis, R.(2016, May 25). Duterte OK with Medicinal Marijuana. Retrieved from
www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/25/1586870/duterte-ok-medical-marijuana