Do you think Marijuana should be legalized?

Baguio City, Philippines – Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – CAR Regional Director Gil Cesario Castro said they agree with the proposal to legalize the use of Marijuana as medicine, citing that it could also help boost the region’s economy.

Castro said marijuana, if legalized, would be of great help for patients who needed the prohibited herb to recover from their illnesses.

“Hindi maubos-ubos ang marijuana because may demand. Kaya, we will take advantage of the law na kung saan may move to legalize the medicinal use of marijuana. Hindi siya recreational kase baka iniisip ng iba recreational, medicinal,” Castro said.

The director added that legalization of marijuana could also help create more jobs for Cordillerans, especially and could make the region becomes the organic pharmaceutical capital of the Philippines.

“I might be invited to the House of Representatives to enlighten about the cultivation of marijuana. Ang gusto ko yung safeguard ng Cordillerans kase napakalaking pera nito baka maging organic pharmaceutical capital ng Pilipinas ang Cordillera… pero dapat magkaroon tayo ng safeguard dun. Yun yung babantayan natin,” Castro stressed.

The director explained that marijuana has two components. One, he said, is a dangerous drug enzyme, and the other is a beneficial component that needs to be extracted for medicinal purposes.

"Dalawa kase ang major components ng marijuana, meron yung tinatawag nating Tetrahydrocannabinol… yun yung dangerous drug sa marijuana and then the other component is the CBD or cannabidiol. Yun yung meron siyang analgesic effect, so yung nagtatake ng marijuana nababawasan yung pain. Ang hamon ngayon is to separate yung dalawang enzyme nayan," he said.

Meanwhile, Castro said Cordillerans can also produce silk or thread out of the marijuana plant, saying that cloth made from said produce is more durable.

Currently, over 31 countries in the world, including the United States and Canada, have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana or cannabis.

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