MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang Thursday hailed the passage of the medical marijuana bill at the House of Representatives, saying it would benefit the sick. The bill, which aims to legalize the use and research of medical marijuana, was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives last Tuesday. Related Stories House approves medical marijuana bill on final readingA total of 163 lawmakers voted in favor of the measure, five voted against it while three others abstained. Duterte, who has declared a war against illegal drugs, previously said he is open to the legalization of medical marijuana but is against its use for recreation. Earlier this month, Speaker and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said she had used cannabis medical patches to ease the pain in her cervical spine.

Source: Philippine Star January 31, 2019 08:27 UTC