The medical Cannabis movement in the Philippines took off in 2014. What began with a small potluck gathering grew into something much bigger. A grassroots movement was born that caught the attention of the media, and some lawmakers who got involved in the ongoing effort to legalize medical Cannabis. Fast forward to 2019, one of the organizers of the historic “potluck” and having been involved and a witness to its development, Kimmi del Prado established Sensible Philippines, the only registered pro cannabis advocacy group in the country. “Grassroots is where the heart of the movement is. This is where we advocates from different backgrounds, from different walks of life, come together. This is where and how core groups are formed. And from core groups we all act together, united with one goal.” Kimmi del Prado Chairperson Sensible Philippines.
With the national elections coming next year, the first political party in the Philippines and Asia dedicated to the decriminalization of Cannabis use was launched on 4-20-2021. The idea of a pro cannabis political party was years in the making, and thanks to staunch advocates, The Medical Cannabis or MedCann Party, has established chapters in major cities across the Philippines. The goal is to win a seat in congress in the upcoming national elections. One of the boldest moves so far, according to Kimmi. She added that whether they win or lose, it’s a major achievement.
Kimmi del Prado is a trailblazer in the medical cannabis movement in the Philippines. She learned of families around the world who’s children’s quality of life were improving, or would, with safe and legal access to Cannabis. That sparked her activism. “I got into cannabis activism in 2014. I was a witness and an active participant to the birth of medical Cannabis advocacy in the Philippines. It was the story of Charlotte Figi that helped spark that in me. At that time, I met mothers and family members with patients (mostly children), through a Facebook page”, Kimmi explained. “As a mother, my only frustration is when my kids and I don’t get along. But to these families of children with seizures, it was a daily battle of staying alive. I just can’t watch them and do nothing. So I followed my instincts, one thing led to another until eventually I found myself as one of the trailblazers of the cannabis movement.”
At that time (2014) most of the world was familiar with, or learning about the Colorado girl Charlotte Figi, who’s Dravet syndrome was well managed by medical Cannabis. What most of the world didn’t know was that in the Philippines a girl named Moon Jaden Lugtu-Yutuc, was suffering from Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). Pharmaceutical drugs were failing her and Cannabis wasn’t an option for her medical treatment. Sadly she spent her last days of life comatose in a hospital bed, Moon Jaden’s story inspired and helped birth the Phillipino medical Cannabis movement and helped shape it as to what it is today. Sadly both Charlotte and Moon Jaden have since passed away, but the mark both girls left on the world lives on. The national conversation about a government approved permit to try illegal drugs as a medical treatment, was sparked after Moon Jaden’s passing.
Cannabis has been illegal in the Philippines since 1972, following the United State’s prohibition of the plant. Prohibitionists in power continue to use the excuse of the country being a signatory to the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as a reason to not allow its citizens the benefit of legally using a medicinal plant, despite the fact the United Nation’s removed Cannabis from it’s list of dangerous drugs in 2020. Activists have reached out to government officials who use the UN convention argument, but have yet to receive a response. A loophole in Philippine law does allow patients, as a last resort, the importation of unregistered illegal products. The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration can issue a Compassionate Special Permit (CSP) for patients suffering from life-threatening conditions such as cancer or AIDS to have legal access to an unregistered drug like Cannabis. Epidiolex, a cannabidiol tablet that is approved by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) for use in the Philippines under a CSP is priced at $32,500 per year. Unfortunately obtaining a CSP is a difficult process, with the only approved Cannabis product being imported and pharmaceutical grade. Cannabis in its raw form is prohibited. CSP is too restrictive and is not applicable to all patients. Under the terms of “Compassionate Use”, patients must have tried all conventional medicine before being allowed to secure a CSP. Seeking healing through a medicinal plant legally, must be a last resort.
Drug prohibition policies come with extreme, harsh, and unjust punishment in The Philippines. Average citizens are often killed in the drug war, while the big time dealers remain at large. There is a great deal of public skepticism as to if all who have lost their lives were actually involved at all with illegal drugs. The government is constantly threatening anyone involved with illegal drugs, including Cannabis, with harsh punishment or even death. Despite all the drug war casualties, drug related problems haven’t been stopped. In July 2020 the AntiTerror-Law was passed. This blanket policy grants authorities the power to quash dissent under the guise of fighting terrorism. The MedCann (Medical Cannabis Party) Baguio chapter had a planned public assembly stopped from even taking place in June 2021 under the law, “We are an opposition party because we aim to confront the existing state drug policies. Under Duterte we have seen the bloodiest iteration of a drug war in history. We believe that the medical benefits of cannabis and even its industrial advantages will be lost to the country as long as our drug policies remain prohibitionist,” explained Henri Enaje, Attorney and the Medical Cannabis Party’s national chairperson. “The War on Drugs has failed — it failed to bring us a just, humane, and peaceful society. As human rights and drug policy reform advocates, patients needing cannabis medicines, and some of us even victims of the drug war, we strongly call for an end to the so-called war against drugs. In truth, it has only victimized, jailed, or killed the poor and the helpless. It is this same brutal policy that prevents patients from accessing cannabis as medicine.”
Since 2014, lawmakers working with grassroots activists have been working to get legislation for medical cannabis passed in Congress. Currently there are 5 pending bills. President Rodrigo Duterte is the main roadblock with his controversial anti-drug policy – popularly called the ‘war on drugs’. His policies have attracted criticism from human rights advocates due to the rising number of extra-judicial killings. “Marijuana – they are cultivated…I’ll give you the excuse to harvest for… they will say it’s medicinal. Everything is medicinal. That would be an excuse. I will not allow it. Not in my time….” President Rodrigo Duterte. The term of President Duterte and the 18th Congress expires on June 30, 2022. Duarte is ineligible for reelection. Advocates and Activists remain determined and dedicated . “As to the country’s collective consciousness on cannabis, I can say it has improved since then [2014]. Although there are still reservations on recreational use – it’s safe to say that more and more people now acknowledge cannabis as medicine.” says Kimmi del Prado
With all they are up against, advocates and activists in the Philippines have made great progress in the 7 years since the movement began. It is important for advocates/activists from around the world to support one another. Connect with Sensible Philippines: www.facebook.com/sensible.ph/ or email: sensible.philippines@gmail.com.
“We could use all the help we can get from allies worldwide. The more we come together, the more we can put pressure on the government to take action. I always emphasize the importance of alliance and community building, and to diversify and unite all advocates. “What we are doing has never been done before, and this is a responsibility we took upon ourselves to safeguard the advocacy and make sure all efforts are directed for the benefit of the people and not for profit.”- Kimmi del Prado chairperson Sensible Philippines
