A psychiatrist is against the use of marijuana as a medicine, although he is in favor of conducting more studies about its use.
Dr. Angelo Jesus Arias, head of the Psychiatric Ward of the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital issued the statement when asked about the proposal in Congress, which is being supported by another medical doctor in the City.
He said the Philippine College of Addiction Medicine, of which he is a member, is against the medicinal use of marijuana because it is prone to abuse.
Dr. Arias told a Kapihan sa PIA forum that there are a lot of medicines available in the market that can do what marijuana can do that has undergone intensive studies.
The psychiatrist said its not enough reason to legalize use of marijuana because a lot of anti-seizure drugs are available in the market, a lot of pain relievers, including pain relievers for cancer patients, vomiting and a lot of alternative medicines.
Arias is batting for amending the Comprehensive Drugs Law to allow more studies on the properties of marijuana.
He cited provisions of a law which states marijuana can be accessed under the so-called Compassionate Use of Illegal Drugs by securing a permit from the Department of Health.
“If legalized, more problems are expected, like the United States, a lot are planting marijuana,” he pointed out. (Juancho Gallarde)
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