SOLON WANTS ADDICTIVE MARIJUANA LEGALIZED

The Cordillera lawmaker's plan to push for the legalization of marijuana
yesterday drew a howl of protest among opposition congressmen who warned
that the move would worsen the already serious drug abuse problem in the
country.

But before his statement could be misunderstood by the public,
Representative Solomon Chungalao (Lakas, Mountain Province) clarified that
the legalization of the addictive plant's use will only be limited to
laboratory tests and other similar endeavors aimed at determining the
medicinal value of marijuana.

Opposition Representative Rodolfo Plaza (NPC, Agusan del Sur) made a swift
swipe at Chuangalao's statement which he aired during the defense of the
budget proposal of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the
House of Representatives floor.

"The opposition is against any plan to legalize marijuana, shabu, or any
other dangerous drug, for that matter," Plaza declared.

The opposition stalwart made the declaration after Pampanga Representative
Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo, who was tasked to defend the PDEA budget,
echoed Chuangalao's view that marijuana indeed has medicinal properties
that are being exploited in other countries.

Chuangalao, chairman of the House committee on national cultural
minorities, said he merely aired the possibility of tapping the medicinal
use of the plant but doing so will require amendments to the Dangerous
Drugs Code that classifies marijuana as dangerous drug, in the same
category as the harmful shabu.

"Morphine, a strong anti-pain drug, comes from poppies where opium and
other dangerous drugs are derived. I do not see why marijuana, which is
addictive but has no proven harmful effects to the health, cannot be
considered for its medicinal value," he said.

The administration solon also came to the defense of Arroyo, son of
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, saying that the neophyte congressman
merely supported the truth in stating that marijuana use is legal in other
countries.

"I hope my suggestion to explore the possibility of tapping the medicinal
value of marijuana is not taken out of context. I have not yet filed a bill
about it because I am still gathering more information about the pros and
cons of the idea," Chuangalao said.

However, the lawmaker also admitted that his province and other Cordillera
remain the main source of marijuana in the country.

"Farmers plant marijuana because of poverty," Chuangalao said.