Pubdate: Mon, 01 Dec 2014
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2014, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Author: Giovani Joy Fontanilla
Page: A1

DOCTORS SAY 'NO' TO MJ

MARIJUANA should not be used in medical treatments.

Dr. Clarette Dy from the Department of Psychiatry of Baguio General
Hospital and Medical Center shared the Philippine College of Addiction
Medicines' view on the legalization of marijuana stands firm, "no".

"We as doctors and even our society, our stand is not to legalize
marijuana in the country," she stressed.

This is in response to proposed House Bill 4477 or the Compassionate
Use of Medical Cannabis Bill or simply the marijuana bill.

In the bill's explanatory note, the bill hopes "to provide accessible,
affordable, safe medical cannabis to qualifying patients."

Cannabis known as marijuana is believed to be beneficial for its
therapeutic uses to treat conditions such as "cachexia or wasting
syndrome, sever chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures ( including but
not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy) and severe and
persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to this associated
with multiple sclerosis."

While this may be true, Dy explained if weighed, the risks of using
marijuana are still greater than the medical benefits.

Although she acknowledged the medical use of marijuana has been
beneficial to some, it is still not advisable as some may abuse it
leading to its negative effects.

According to the World Health Organization, cannabis or marijuana
impairs cognitive development and psychomotor performance.

Dy reported the BGHMC is serving 57 clients under its outpatient drug
rehab program whose ages range from 13 to 45 years old.

Most of them are identified addicted to marijuana and others are
methamphetamine or shabu and polydrug dependent.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt