Aired (May 18, 2024): Sa ilalim ng ating batas, ipinagbabawal ang cannabis o marijuana. Pero may mga tao na may kondisyon o karamdaman na naniniwala na mabisang gamot ang iligal na halaman na ito.
Sa higpit ng batas at sa pagtutol ng marami tungkol sa medical cannabis, nasaan na nga ba tayo pagdating sa legalisasyon ng halaman bilang gamot?
Samahan natin si Atom Araullo para sa kanyang pinakabagong dokumentaryo para sa #IWitness, ang #MaryJane!
Sa higpit ng batas at sa pagtutol ng marami tungkol sa medical cannabis, nasaan na nga ba tayo pagdating sa legalisasyon ng halaman bilang gamot?
Samahan natin si Atom Araullo para sa kanyang pinakabagong dokumentaryo para sa #IWitness, ang #MaryJane!
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:16 In the shape of these leaves, it will be recognized by many.
00:22 [Music]
00:25 Cannabis is the scientific name of this plant.
00:28 But it is more known in the country of marijuana.
00:33 [Music]
00:36 Sometimes it is feared, sometimes it is praised.
00:40 And now, it is the center of a huge debate.
00:44 [Music]
00:46 Is it a medicine or a drug?
00:48 Is it an enemy or a comrade?
00:51 [Music]
00:57 [Indistinct chatter]
01:03 In a small and cramped room in Pasay,
01:07 Mary Jane, the mother, is watching over her son, Wendy.
01:13 [Music]
01:17 The five-year-old boy has epilepsy.
01:20 [Music]
01:22 And he has his fourth seizure today.
01:25 [Music]
01:32 When I was attacked, I was just lying on my side.
01:35 After 20 minutes or more, I was taken to the hospital.
01:41 I was rushed to the hospital.
01:43 He was in a very bad condition.
01:45 [Crying]
01:48 If it's okay with me, I'll be fine.
01:50 [Crying]
01:52 I know that he's fighting, that's why I didn't feel better.
01:56 [Crying]
01:58 [Indistinct chatter]
02:00 [Crying]
02:06 [Indistinct chatter]
02:08 [Crying]
02:11 [Indistinct chatter]
02:13 [Dog barking]
02:18 It wasn't easy to visit the mother.
02:22 [Indistinct chatter]
02:45 Wendy is like a ghost,
02:48 her mother is not able to control her.
02:52 It usually happens in one day or two.
02:55 Sometimes, it's just in the morning,
02:58 and it's already late.
02:59 It's different when it's almost night.
03:01 Wow.
03:02 It's like that.
03:03 The condition of the child also leaves a hole in their pocket.
03:10 How are you, Imbastus?
03:12 I sometimes borrow money from her.
03:18 Her mother is not a small person.
03:23 She's a dastard.
03:25 [Music]
03:29 Mary Jane travels the world to take care of Wendy.
03:34 She always thinks about how to help her child.
03:40 One month ago, she contacted Mary Jane,
03:44 and she gave a suggestion,
03:46 as if it's new to her.
03:50 She sent me a PM,
03:52 "Here's the cannabis,
03:55 and it's said to be good for other countries."
03:58 I asked her, "Where's the cannabis?"
04:01 Mary Jane doesn't know what cannabis is,
04:05 but she knows what marijuana is.
04:09 Her mother thought.
04:11 If I try,
04:15 I'll be arrested.
04:18 [Music]
04:24 Cannabis is strictly prohibited in the Philippines.
04:30 It's considered a dangerous drug
04:32 because it has a harmful effect on humans.
04:36 500 grams of marijuana or 10 grams of resin
04:42 can be charged up to 10 million pesos
04:45 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
04:49 [Music]
04:53 Is illegal cannabis really a drug?
04:56 [Music]
04:58 If you ask Dr. Jemut Tia,
05:01 he has no doubt.
05:03 Marijuana is one of the longest-living drugs
05:08 used by humans.
05:10 Dr. Mutia is the founder of the Philippine Society of Cannabinoid Medicine,
05:16 the main medical organization in the Philippines
05:19 that promotes the use of cannabis as a drug.
05:23 He has been fighting this for a long time.
05:26 Dr. Jem Mutia.
05:28 He was already talked to by an eyewitness back in 2016.
05:32 Cannabis has been a medicine longer than it hasn't been a medicine.
05:38 4,000 years ago from China, India,
05:41 it was already a drug.
05:42 It was already written.
05:43 But cannabis is not just a traditional medicine.
05:48 In mainstream medicine,
05:52 its use has been proven in some diseases.
05:56 So, in 1986,
05:59 the FDA approved tetrahydrocannabinol
06:03 for chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting
06:07 for cancer patients who cough and vomit and cannot eat.
06:12 And then next,
06:14 it is for neuropathic pain,
06:17 the rashes from the roots or nerves.
06:21 It was also approved by the FDA for multiple sclerosis.
06:24 And then, intractable epilepsy
06:28 or epilepsy that cannot be treated with conventional treatment.
06:33 Why is cannabis effective as a medicine?
06:38 According to studies,
06:40 some chemical compounds found in cannabis
06:44 are called phytocannabinoids.
06:47 They are similar to the natural chemicals
06:51 that our body produces
06:53 that are called endocannabinoids.
06:56 Our body produces marijuana-like compounds,
07:02 the chemicals for hunger,
07:05 the chemicals for sleep,
07:09 the chemicals for the removal of nausea.
07:11 Based on studies,
07:13 there are diseases where the level of cannabinoids is low.
07:18 And these diseases, when you supplement cannabis with cannabinoids,
07:26 can be helpful.
07:28 And in phytocannabinoids,
07:31 there are two most common ones.
07:33 Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC
07:37 and cannabidiol or CBD.
07:40 THC is a psychoactive or addictive ingredient of marijuana.
07:45 CBD is a non-psychoactive ingredient.
07:49 These chemicals are continuously studied
07:52 as the cure for various diseases.
07:55 Nowadays, not all diseases can be treated with marijuana,
08:00 but many can.
08:02 I met a family who believes in the use of medical cannabis
08:09 because of their experience.
08:14 The wife's son, who we will hide,
08:17 had a rare type of cancer.
08:19 His name is Gina and his name is Arnel.
08:22 Our son was 8 years old.
08:25 While he was in school, he always had headaches.
08:29 And when he got home, he couldn't sleep because of the pain.
08:34 When we did a CT scan, I was the one who received the result.
08:37 The doctor himself said that his son had a tumor in his head.
08:42 So that's when we did a breakdown.
08:44 His son's illness is serious.
08:48 We call it M.A.R.C.
08:50 He was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in 2018.
08:56 It's a type of cancer that targets the soft tissue cells of humans.
09:01 The doctor said that the chance of survival was only 2%.
09:08 At that time, he already waved goodbye to me.
09:12 I was surprised that he did it.
09:14 But still, we trusted the doctors.
09:19 The child had to undergo 42 cycles of chemotherapy
09:27 to open up the cancer.
09:29 The effects of the medicine on his small body were strong.
09:34 But in their investigation, a couple discovered
09:38 that medical cannabis helped those undergoing chemotherapy.
09:44 That's what I was told.
09:46 We tried to get rid of it.
09:48 At least, if the edding is not good, we won't have regrets.
09:51 We didn't take it yet because there were cycles.
09:56 After every dose of chemotherapy,
09:59 he would get sick and weak.
10:03 Once he took the medical cannabis,
10:06 what was the effect?
10:08 He was able to endure the chemotherapy
10:13 maybe because of the drops that we gave him.
10:18 M.A.R.C. completed his chemotherapy within a year.
10:23 And now, the child is in remission or has no chance of cancer.
10:30 He has also gained weight and is now able to study.
10:37 What are your favorite subjects?
10:40 AP and MAPE.
10:42 Why?
10:43 Because in AP, I want to learn about the history,
10:47 and in MAPE, I want to learn sports like basketball.
10:57 M.A.R.C. is no longer prescribed any medicine.
11:01 But his parents still give him medical cannabis.
11:05 They call it "mala maintenance medicine".
11:09 People think that it comes from the hay.
11:17 We never saw that it has that effect.
11:19 Your son also went through 42 cycles of chemotherapy.
11:26 Yes.
11:27 Maybe that's the reason why his tumor became smaller.
11:35 Maybe it has nothing to do with...
11:37 There is also the side effect.
11:39 Yes, there is also the side effect.
11:40 But the side effect is too much.
11:42 But because it's illegal,
11:48 the use of medical cannabis in the Philippines is still a big issue.
11:53 One, two, three.
11:55 He has epilepsy, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.
12:04 He is the son of Olive, who doesn't have a real name.
12:07 You say hi.
12:08 He can't even count the drugs that the child used to take.
12:13 Until they tried medical cannabis.
12:18 Will you say hi?
12:19 Hi.
12:20 Hi.
12:22 He didn't have eye-to-eye contact before.
12:25 He never listened to people.
12:29 So, his improvement is big.
12:31 It's so big.
12:33 It's so big because before, he was like a vegetable.
12:38 After drinking, eating, resting, and sleeping.
12:40 In a day or in a week, how often did he have seizures?
12:47 Before, maybe three times a week.
12:52 Now, sometimes, he doesn't have seizures for a month.
12:55 Ma!
12:57 Ma!
12:59 Ma!
13:01 How sure are you that medical cannabis can really help your son?
13:09 That's the only medicine he uses.
13:11 After I removed all his parma meds.
13:16 Another one.
13:17 Olive's story is that she told her doctor about the use of medical cannabis.
13:24 I asked her, sadly, "Is it true that marijuana can cure epilepsy?"
13:31 She said, "I'm not saying that it's true, but I have a patient who told me that he also takes marijuana.
13:42 His son also takes it.
13:43 And then, the medicine was reduced."
13:45 So, she didn't recommend it to you?
13:48 No.
13:49 But she didn't stop you?
13:50 She didn't stop me.
13:52 It's up to me.
13:53 No throwing, Ma. No throwing.
13:58 Because of the good condition of her son,
14:01 the cost of his medication and hospitalization was also greatly reduced.
14:07 Very good.
14:09 How do you feel that you can't do this openly?
14:12 It hurts for me.
14:15 I can do it.
14:17 But my other family members or patients can't do it.
14:24 But aren't you afraid that you might be arrested just for possession of medical cannabis?
14:32 Of course, I'm afraid.
14:34 My motherhood is getting worse.
14:38 My motherhood is getting worse.
14:42 I would rather my son live and be jailed than see him die little by little.
14:51 This is the story of medical cannabis advocate and researcher Chuck Manansalang.
14:59 Before, he only buys the medicines made from marijuana from pharmacies.
15:05 I'm still looking for it on the internet.
15:09 And it was Gat Jose Rizal himself who proved it.
15:13 Aside from the doctor, he was contacted by his colleague,
15:18 his fellow, a mayor,
15:22 who asked him about hashish.
15:25 They call it hashish here in the Philippines.
15:28 What Jose Rizal said was that he used it for experimental purposes.
15:37 If cannabis has been used by different cultures for a long time,
15:41 when did it have a bad reputation?
15:44 It happened around 1930 in America under the leadership of Harry Ansling,
15:50 who was then the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
15:54 Because in 1929, there was a great depression.
16:01 There was no work.
16:03 Americans were angry, even immigrants.
16:07 [Music]
16:09 But red marijuana in particular.
16:13 That is the purpose of this meeting, ladies and gentlemen.
16:16 He said that he used marijuana,
16:21 a term used by Mexicans for cannabis.
16:24 He used marijuana,
16:26 used by blacks, black Americans,
16:30 Hispanics, and Filipinos.
16:32 We are all together in Denimonize.
16:35 To make their satanic music.
16:38 Harry Anslinger said that satanic music is jazz and swing.
16:43 [Music]
16:45 That is why marijuana had a bad reputation in America.
16:52 [Music]
16:55 In the following decades,
16:59 America became more attached to cannabis.
17:03 [Music]
17:05 In 1971, under President Richard Nixon,
17:09 it was considered a Schedule I drug.
17:11 This means that it has a great potential for drug abuse
17:15 and it is not recognized as a medicine.
17:18 It has no scientific basis.
17:21 It is a product of racism.
17:23 [Music]
17:26 Countless countries are now expanding their cannabis laws.
17:32 [Music]
17:34 To date, more than 40 countries have implemented
17:38 the cannabis partial and full legalization.
17:41 [Music]
17:43 In America, marijuana is also considered to be removed
17:47 from the list of Schedule I drugs.
17:49 [Music]
17:51 But in the Philippines, medical cannabis
17:54 can still be found in the black market.
17:57 If you still resist the concept
18:01 I met Alias Tristan,
18:03 one of the sources of medical cannabis in the country.
18:07 Honestly, I'm just doing this because no one else is doing it.
18:11 [Music]
18:13 To add more canned message.
18:19 Tristan said that he studied for more than 10 years,
18:24 consulted with his doctor friends,
18:28 and shared his experience with medical cannabis.
18:34 I am the one who makes the way for the medicine to reach the patients.
18:39 And the right medicine, the right dose, and the right method.
18:45 He said that he can no longer count the people who said
18:48 that their medicine helped them,
18:50 that he gives free of charge to those in need.
18:56 Why are you doing this despite the dangers?
18:58 Because technically, you can still be charged for what you're doing.
19:05 Maybe you will rarely experience in your life
19:12 that you will be given a purpose.
19:16 It started with one patient,
19:18 and now we have thousands of patients.
19:21 I cannot stop.
19:24 I think my greatest crime would be to stop,
19:27 knowing that I can do more, I can do better.
19:31 Sorry, I'm a little bit emotional.
19:33 It makes you very emotional talking about this topic.
19:38 Yeah, because I have sacrificed a lot of my personal life
19:47 just pursuing this advocacy.
19:53 How did you feel when you had to hide?
19:55 I got used to it, but it was very lonely at first.
20:00 Because no one knows what I do.
20:03 I have to live a double life.
20:05 I don't want to hide anymore, honestly.
20:08 But medical cannabis is still being taught by many doctors,
20:18 particularly the Philippine Medical Association or PMA.
20:23 Dr. Tony Lechon is worried that cannabis will be abused
20:29 if it is allowed to be used as a medicine.
20:33 For many reasons.
20:35 The first reason is about safety.
20:37 It's a typical psychoactive and addicting product with potential for abuse.
20:45 The second reason is that we know that in the Philippines,
20:50 the regulatory function of cannabis is weak.
20:54 It cannot be controlled.
20:59 He even insists that cannabis-based medicines are allowed
21:06 through the so-called Compassionate Special Permit or CSP.
21:12 If you need something, you just need to write to the FDA
21:16 and they will send you the medicine.
21:19 But Dr. Mutia doesn't agree with this.
21:25 Unfortunately, it's like you're walking through a hole in a cannabis plant.
21:29 Compassionate Special Permit is the only one that was given.
21:32 The problem is that those were given individually,
21:37 and they were not accessed due to the excessive process and the price.
21:45 But is cannabis really addictive and dangerous?
21:52 If it's just cannabis, it won't kill you.
21:57 Some people smoke marijuana, drink alcohol, and drive.
22:03 If you take cannabis medicine, don't drive and don't operate heavy equipment.
22:08 That's rule number one.
22:10 I personally believe that why is tobacco, which is more deadly
22:16 and has been proven to kill many people, illegal?
22:20 You can become independent from marijuana if you do not have the discipline
22:24 or if you have a problem in life and you thought that cannabis would be the solution.
22:30 But for medical use, it's under doctor supervision.
22:34 But if medical marijuana is allowed to be used,
22:39 will it be followed by the use of recreational marijuana or as a drug?
22:45 We do not promote the use of non-medical marijuana.
22:51 But at the same time, we also strongly condemn the criminalization of users of marijuana for whatever reason.
23:02 What is the middle ground?
23:04 There's a middle ground.
23:06 After the research, if they would involve, let's say, the academic institutions plus the scientists and researchers,
23:15 we will see that we are trusting.
23:19 It's open for R&D.
23:21 Why not? You're a doctor.
23:23 We tried to get the Department of Health to speak about it.
23:29 But they said that they cannot face our program due to the time and place we have set.
23:35 Is the expansion of the law on medical cannabis in the country approaching?
23:41 For now, it is a constitutional law that is being discussed in Congress and in the Senate.
23:48 Welcome to the launch of the Cannabis Alliance Bill of Rights.
23:51 This year, various pro-medical cannabis groups have also joined to support their advocacy.
23:58 I also want to call on the public.
24:00 Call them. Listen to the patients.
24:04 Look at the evidence.
24:06 And do not be afraid to study cannabis.
24:09 Let's set up the right study, the right training for the doctors.
24:15 We will find ways to control it so that we can always give quality to the patients.
24:21 So, the advocates are shouting that there should be affordable, safe, and available marijuana here in the Philippines.
24:31 Fight for medical cannabis!
24:34 You know, I've been here for 10 years.
24:40 I'm excited. This is my highest confidence level that something will really happen.
24:46 Mary Jane still lacks information about medical cannabis.
25:06 But she is interested to learn.
25:09 Especially if it will help her daughter's condition.
25:13 I haven't asked her doctor yet.
25:16 I just know how to make it.
25:19 So, we will try it.
25:22 I've tried it before.
25:24 But because of the strictness of the law and the leftist rule,
25:34 the fear is getting lower than the hope for people like Mary Jane.
25:40 Will they be able to find the most delicious solution?
25:45 Without any hesitation and fear.
25:51 Good evening. I am Atom Arawlyo.
25:59 And this is "Eyewitness."
26:02 "Eyewitness."
26:05 "Eyewitness"
26:09 "Eyewitness"
26:12 "Eyewitness"
26:16 "Eyewitness"
26:20 "Eyewitness"
26:24 "Eyewitness"
26:28 "Eyewitness"
26:32 "Eyewitness"
26:36 you