Another Albano bats for passage of medical marijuana bill
Published Aug 5, 2019 03:37 pm
By Ellson QuismorioÂ
Another Albano is aggressively pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana (cannabis) this 18th Congress.
Isabela 1st district Rep. Antonio "Tonypet" Albano
(Isabela PIO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) On Monday, Isabela 1st district Rep. Antonio "Tonypet" Albano held a meeting at the House of Representatives with advocates of medical marijuana in an effort to "put a face" on his measure, House Bill (HB) No.279. Also known as the proposed "Act providing right of access to medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative means of medical treatment, expanding research into its medicinal properties and for other proposes," HB No.279 is practically the same measure filed by Rep. Albano's predecessor and brother, former congressman Rodito Albano in the previous 17th Congress. Rep. Albano appears to be just as passionate as his now-Isabela governor sibling when it comes to making medical cannabis legally available to Filipinos. "Ipaglalaban namin ang inyong plight (We will fight for your plight)," he told the advocates, who were mostly composed of patients of epilepsy, cancer, as well as their relatives. "I assure you I am working overtime...we will really work hard ," said Rep. Albano, who called for the meeting even if the pertinent House Committees that could handle his bill were yet to be formed. "I need this boost coming from you so that I can actually have a face on the bill that we filed. HB No. 279 is because of them, and not because of us." The measure reached third and final reading in the House in the previous Congress. However, President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration in March 2019 that he won't approve the legalization of marijuana effectively killed it. The two most recognizable poster children of the pro-medical cannabis efforts--epilepsy patients Sachi Ballesteros, 12; and Julia Cunanan, 7--participated in the House meeting. Only half of Sachi's brain is functioning, while Julia suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, causing her to have seizures "40 to 50 times in one hour." Normal lives Their parents' plea before the government is the same as before – grant patients the use of medical marijuana so they may have normal, more comfortable lives. In the case of cancer patients, medical marijuana is said to help relieve the side effects suffered by chemotherapy patients. Lisa Legazpi, a stage 4 breast cancer patient, said these side effects include lack of appetite, lack of sleep, and body pain. Rep. Albano claimed that he personally saw the positive effects of medical cannabis on his sister's mother-in-law, who was also afflicted with cancer. She resides in the United States. "After using medical cannabis, for the past four years she hasn't felt pain, she wakes up with appetite, she can drive...her life has been normal," the lawmaker narrated. Michelle Ballesteros, Sachi's mother, said it was her constant worry whether or not her boy's frail body could still survive his seizures. "We have been advocating for five years. Dito na po lumaki si Sachi at Julia sa Congress (Sachi and Julia have practically grown here in Congress)." She then lamented: "We have been accused many times of being used and that's the sad part. No matter how many times we tell them our journey and tell them that we are real patients, they cannot understand." "Sana po sa 18th Congress pagbigyan niyo na po kami (I hope they grant our wish in the 18th Congress)...before it's too late." Marijuana, a downer, is considered a banned substance under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Isabela 1st district Rep. Antonio "Tonypet" Albano(Isabela PIO / FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) On Monday, Isabela 1st district Rep. Antonio "Tonypet" Albano held a meeting at the House of Representatives with advocates of medical marijuana in an effort to "put a face" on his measure, House Bill (HB) No.279. Also known as the proposed "Act providing right of access to medical cannabis as a compassionate alternative means of medical treatment, expanding research into its medicinal properties and for other proposes," HB No.279 is practically the same measure filed by Rep. Albano's predecessor and brother, former congressman Rodito Albano in the previous 17th Congress. Rep. Albano appears to be just as passionate as his now-Isabela governor sibling when it comes to making medical cannabis legally available to Filipinos. "Ipaglalaban namin ang inyong plight (We will fight for your plight)," he told the advocates, who were mostly composed of patients of epilepsy, cancer, as well as their relatives. "I assure you I am working overtime...we will really work hard ," said Rep. Albano, who called for the meeting even if the pertinent House Committees that could handle his bill were yet to be formed. "I need this boost coming from you so that I can actually have a face on the bill that we filed. HB No. 279 is because of them, and not because of us." The measure reached third and final reading in the House in the previous Congress. However, President Rodrigo Duterte's declaration in March 2019 that he won't approve the legalization of marijuana effectively killed it. The two most recognizable poster children of the pro-medical cannabis efforts--epilepsy patients Sachi Ballesteros, 12; and Julia Cunanan, 7--participated in the House meeting. Only half of Sachi's brain is functioning, while Julia suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, causing her to have seizures "40 to 50 times in one hour." Normal lives Their parents' plea before the government is the same as before – grant patients the use of medical marijuana so they may have normal, more comfortable lives. In the case of cancer patients, medical marijuana is said to help relieve the side effects suffered by chemotherapy patients. Lisa Legazpi, a stage 4 breast cancer patient, said these side effects include lack of appetite, lack of sleep, and body pain. Rep. Albano claimed that he personally saw the positive effects of medical cannabis on his sister's mother-in-law, who was also afflicted with cancer. She resides in the United States. "After using medical cannabis, for the past four years she hasn't felt pain, she wakes up with appetite, she can drive...her life has been normal," the lawmaker narrated. Michelle Ballesteros, Sachi's mother, said it was her constant worry whether or not her boy's frail body could still survive his seizures. "We have been advocating for five years. Dito na po lumaki si Sachi at Julia sa Congress (Sachi and Julia have practically grown here in Congress)." She then lamented: "We have been accused many times of being used and that's the sad part. No matter how many times we tell them our journey and tell them that we are real patients, they cannot understand." "Sana po sa 18th Congress pagbigyan niyo na po kami (I hope they grant our wish in the 18th Congress)...before it's too late." Marijuana, a downer, is considered a banned substance under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.