NEGATIVE SIDE THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD NOT LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL

MARIJUANA

I.

ARGUMENTATION PRESENTATION ROUND

Introduction

G.R. No. L-69844 February 23, 1988

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
ROMEO POLICARPIO y MIRANDA, accused-appellant.

Short description on the case

Drug addiction is one of the most pernicious evils that has ever crept into our society. More
often than not it is the young who constitute the greater majority of the citizenry who are the
victims. It is of common knowledge that drug addicts become useless if not dangerous
members of society and in some instances turn up to be among the living dead. This is the
reason why the courts and law enforcement agencies should continue in their relentless
campaign not merely to minimize but to totally eradicate the evil before it is too late. And
everyone must be involved in this drive if we are to succeed.
1) The risks and negative effects of marijuana is still greater than its medicinal
effects.
2) The Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and United Nations Commission on Narcotic
Drugs classified marijuana as a dangerous drug

Under Republic Act 9165, also known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002,
Marijuana is classified as a dangerous drug. Its possession and use is
punishable from 12 years to life imprisonment, depending on the quantity.

Article (2) Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution states that the State shall protect
and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness
among them.

If marijuana is classified as a dangerous drug and legalizing it without

proven medical benefits is a clear violation of our constitutional mandate. We
should not allow the people to use marijuana if the risks are greater than its
benefits

The Philippines is signatory to various United Nations Conventions and

International Agreements which classified marijuana as a dangerous drug,
particularly the United Nation's Commission on Narcotic Drugs (UN-CND)
Schedule IV.

Sources:
1987
Philippine
Constitution,
Article
XIII
Sec
(11)
http://www.chanrobles.com/article13health.htm#.WC2pMbJ97I;
Repulic Act No. 9165 An Act Instituting the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of
2002, repealing Republic Act No. 6425, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act
of 1972, as Amended, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes,
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2002/ra_9165_2002.html
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol
amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, United Nations,
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf
3) The Philippines is weak in regulating laws.

Former PDEA Chief Arturo Cacdac emphasized that the government should first
resolve the issue of how the government would regulate marijuana plantations
before legalizing the use of medical marijuana. Sen. Grace Poe also highlighted
that the country needs to ensure that it is really capable of regulation marijuana
production and distribution.

Source:
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/06/09/Philippines-medicalmarijuana-pending-cannabis-bill-House-of-Representatives.html

Case in point, Section of Republic Act 9211 or known as the Tobacco Regulation
Act of 2003 seeks to prohibit minors from using and buying of cigarettes.
However, the National Youth Commission reported that More and more young
Filipinos are lighting up cigarettes, with two out of five teenagers trying out the
habit in 2011. The NYC added that 50.8 percent, or half of all Filipinos aged 1315 will have tried using a tobacco product in 2011, when smoking among the
countrys teenagers aged 13-15 may have escalated to as much as 38.2 percent
(equivalent to 2.2 million), or two out of every five 5 young Filipinos.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/162607/national-youth-commission-alarmed-byspread-of-smoking-among-teens