PANGASINAN NOT YET READY TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA:
CARBONEL

DAGUPAN -- The Philippines is not yet ready to legalize the use of
marijuana (cannavis sativa), a ranking official of the City Government of
Dagupan said Saturday.

Leonard Carbonel, a doctor and assistant city health officer, said in
Pangasinan alone, the culture of the provincefolks do not simply match
anything that goes along with the legalization of the use of marijuana.

Carbonel issued his statement when asked to comment on the bill which
presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Mike Arroyo has authored proposing for
the legalization of the use of marijuana across the nation.

The bill, however, has yet to seek approval of members of the House of
Representatives.

While Carbonel cited the vital use of marijuana as a medical herb that
could be of help by serving as auxiliary support in curing patients
suffering from special cases, the usage of the plant even for medical
purposes may yet bring complexity to the patients and trigger abuse to some
people who have vested interest on the herb itself.

He said among the possible uses of marijuana include serving as a pain
reliever or tranquilizer for patients suffering from ailments like cancer
and similar illnesses.

But the doctor said modern medicine has come up with new substitute for
marijuana as far as its medicinal value is considered.

Carbonel added that the new medicines - capsule or tablet - have even been
proven to have lesser or no side effects at all unlike using marijuana
which is anticipated to trigger strong side effects.

Owing to this, the city health officer said the recommended use of
marijuana as a medicinal herb has no longer relevance in this world where
modern medicine prevails.