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CANNABIS or marijuana is still a dangerous drug, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Control Agency (PDEA).
The PDEA, in a statement released to the media through its Western Visayas regional office, said: “Following the decision of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UN-CND) to remove cannabis from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (the ‘Convention’), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Control Agency would like to inform the public of its limited implications for our drug control policies and actions ” .
As the DDB previously stated, the decision will not have an immediate impact in terms of drug control, as the government will still have jurisdiction over the classification and regulation of cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, at the national level, he added.
The PDEA also explained that while cannabis has been removed from Annex IV of the international drug control convention, it is still a dangerous drug under Annex 1.
The Convention exclusively limits the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution, trade, use and possession of substances in Schedule 1 to medical and scientific purposes, the PDEA added.
“The removal of Annex IV means that UN-CND recognizes that cannabis may have potential therapeutic or medicinal value. However, medical cannabis preparations or products must still acquire and comply with the regulatory control requirements of the PDEA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other government agencies. Control measures and regulations on the medical use of cannabis are very necessary to ensure patient safety and prevent its use for recreational purposes, “added the PDEA.
“More importantly, cannabis remains a dangerous drug as defined in Republic Law 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, as amended. The unauthorized import, sale, possession, cultivation and use of cannabis continues to be punishable by law. PDEA will continue to enforce the law and urge the public to comply with the law, “he added.
Through this clarification, the DDB and PDEA hope that the reclassification of cannabis by the UN CND will not send the wrong message to the public, especially young people, that it is safe and legal for recreational use.
It remains regulated because it is highly addictive and has negative health, social and legal consequences, the agencies said.
Government agencies will stand firm in implementing measures to prevent the cultivation, possession, use, sale, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of cannabis and other dangerous drugs as provided by law, the PDEA said.
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