PDEA Operation “Lawmen” and Operation “Private Eye Reward”: Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General ,Police Major General (Ret) Isagani Nerez leads the activity held on APril 8 at Camp Bado Dangwa,La Trinidad,Benguet. Photo by Primo Agatep
Baguio City – Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isagani Nerez said he supports the use of marijuana strictly for medical purposes, but firmly opposes its use for recreation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the PDEA Operation “Lawmen” and Operation “Private Eye Reward” awarding ceremony held on April 8 at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet, Nerez stressed that any move to allow medical marijuana must come with tight government supervision and regulation.
He said the agency is open to the use of marijuana as medicine, provided it is subject to the same strict controls imposed on other dangerous and regulated drugs. Nerez noted that under current rules, doctors must first secure S2 clearance from PDEA before they can prescribe controlled or dangerous drugs.
He said this safeguard should also apply if marijuana is allowed for medical use, to ensure that only properly accredited physicians can issue prescriptions and that its distribution remains closely monitored.
Under the existing system, Nerez explained, even licensed doctors cannot simply prescribe medicines containing illegal or controlled substances unless they are authorized by PDEA. He said a similar mechanism should be enforced for marijuana if it is approved for medical treatment.
At the same time, Nerez made clear that PDEA’s campaign against illegal drugs remains in full force, saying the agency will continue its eradication drive even as discussions on the regulated medical use of marijuana continue.