PDEA, DBM open to reclassify marijuana as less dangerous substance

National

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) are open to reclassifying cannabis or marijuana and downgrading its level to less dangerous drugs, according to Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.

During the senate deliberation of the 2025 national budget, Dela Rosa who defended the two agencies’ budget next year, said that PDEA and DDB are willing to do everything to downgrade marijuana,” an Inquirer report stated.

In 2020, the 53 member states of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs approved the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) that cannabis and cannabis-related substances be deleted from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention of Narcotic Drugs which has been classified as dangerous drugs or most controlled substances including heroin.

Substances under Schedule IV are described as “highly addictive and highly liable for abuse,” which needs control since it is labeled as “particularly harmful and of extremely limited medical or therapeutic value”.

In 2023, over 20 countries have already made marijuana legal. Among these countries are Canada, Uruguay, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Belize, and Colombia, among others.

During the budget hearing, Senator Robin Padilla asked if the two Philippine agencies would heed the suggestion of WHO and United Nations.

Dela Rosa answered there was no problem with it, but there should be an amendment to Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, where marijuana was one of the prohibited substances in the country.

Under RA 9165, marijuana is “annexed” as one of the prohibited drugs. If the law gets amended, Dela Rosa said PDEA and DDB are willing to reclassify it.

“But as far as their willingness, as far as their approval, as far as their cooperation is concerned, they’re very much willing to do everything…” Dela Rosa said.(LAO)