The General
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Manila - Amid the buzz that the plant has generated after it has been ruled legal for recreational purposes in the state of Colorado in the United States, a more important question persists in the country: Should marijuana be made legal in the Philippines? One group thinks that the government should take a long, hard look at the plant's medical benefits.
Marijuana gained prominence during the counterculture era of the 1960s when it was the hippies' drug of choice. Unknown to some, if not many, the drug has medical benefits, as it is being used to treat children with epilepsy. The plant's anti-plasmodic properties help control children's seizures, and the side effects brought upon by the use of marijuana are much lesser than synthetic drugs used to treat epilepsy.
We were able to talk to Dr. Donnabel Cunanan, who is a member of the Philippine Moms for Marijuana. The said group aims to raise awareness of the plant, and is now clamoring for the government to reclassify marijuana so that it can be used medically. According to Cunanan, apart from the drug being used to treat epilepsy, marijuana was also found to be able to aid in the treatment of cancer, as its THC component can shrink tumors, and that this can be used to treat several diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, glaucoma and even diabetes. Dr. Cunanan joined Philippine Moms for Marijuana in September 2013 after she had seen Baby Moon, a child suffering from Dravey Syndrome, on TV. Doctors have told Dr. Cunanan that her child may have the same condition, and this prompted her to look further into the medical benefits of marijuana.
Since we had talked about the medical benefits of marijuana, I asked Dr. Cunanan about the negative effects of the drug. I asked her if it was true that marijuana lowers down memory and IQ, and she informed us that there has been no scientific proof to such claims. She added that there had never been a case of people dying of marijuana overdose, and that its supposed addictiveness is unfounded. She also maintained that it is only the oil from the plant that they wish to be made legal, and not the part of the drug that people smoke.
Medical marijuana is legal in 20 states in the United States. It is also legal in Canada and Israel. Dr. Cunanan believes that the government should look beyond the drug's reputation and study how medical marijuana can help people who need them in the country. Clearly, this is going to be a long and gruesome battle for groups such as Philippine Moms for Marijuana, as well as for mothers like Dr. Cunanan. What's important right now is the government should act on such petition as soon as possible, given the number of lives it could help save granted that the drug be reclassified.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Tempo.com.ph
Author: Tempo
Contact: Contact | Tempo - News in a Flash
Website: Is the Philippines ready for medical marijuana? | Tempo - News in a Flash
Marijuana gained prominence during the counterculture era of the 1960s when it was the hippies' drug of choice. Unknown to some, if not many, the drug has medical benefits, as it is being used to treat children with epilepsy. The plant's anti-plasmodic properties help control children's seizures, and the side effects brought upon by the use of marijuana are much lesser than synthetic drugs used to treat epilepsy.
We were able to talk to Dr. Donnabel Cunanan, who is a member of the Philippine Moms for Marijuana. The said group aims to raise awareness of the plant, and is now clamoring for the government to reclassify marijuana so that it can be used medically. According to Cunanan, apart from the drug being used to treat epilepsy, marijuana was also found to be able to aid in the treatment of cancer, as its THC component can shrink tumors, and that this can be used to treat several diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, glaucoma and even diabetes. Dr. Cunanan joined Philippine Moms for Marijuana in September 2013 after she had seen Baby Moon, a child suffering from Dravey Syndrome, on TV. Doctors have told Dr. Cunanan that her child may have the same condition, and this prompted her to look further into the medical benefits of marijuana.
Since we had talked about the medical benefits of marijuana, I asked Dr. Cunanan about the negative effects of the drug. I asked her if it was true that marijuana lowers down memory and IQ, and she informed us that there has been no scientific proof to such claims. She added that there had never been a case of people dying of marijuana overdose, and that its supposed addictiveness is unfounded. She also maintained that it is only the oil from the plant that they wish to be made legal, and not the part of the drug that people smoke.
Medical marijuana is legal in 20 states in the United States. It is also legal in Canada and Israel. Dr. Cunanan believes that the government should look beyond the drug's reputation and study how medical marijuana can help people who need them in the country. Clearly, this is going to be a long and gruesome battle for groups such as Philippine Moms for Marijuana, as well as for mothers like Dr. Cunanan. What's important right now is the government should act on such petition as soon as possible, given the number of lives it could help save granted that the drug be reclassified.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Tempo.com.ph
Author: Tempo
Contact: Contact | Tempo - News in a Flash
Website: Is the Philippines ready for medical marijuana? | Tempo - News in a Flash
