Robin Padilla pushes for medical marijuana for terminal cancer

Image: Instagram/@robinhoodpadilla

Robin Padilla believes that Filipinos should be focusing on how to cure terminal cancer rather than fight over basketball or politics.

The treatment he advocates? Medical marijuana.

He explained in an Instagram post that through all the individuals and charities he has given aid for cancer, chemotherapy has painfully eroded families’ savings just to save a life.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkq_ggDHk8P/?taken-by=robinhoodpadilla

“Hindi mawala sa aking alaala ang mga namamalimos na mga mahal sa buhay habang ang may cancer ay sinusunog unti unti ng napakamahal na chemotheraphy,” he said.

(I will never forget the memories of people begging for help, for their loved one’s lives, while those with cancer are slowly burnt out by expensive chemotherapy.)

He claimed that throughout his 49 years of life, he only knows of one cancer survivor, namely his cousin Maritoni Fernandez.

He said medical marijuana gives people the opportunity to undergo “natural healing,” as has been adopted in some “firstworld (sic) countries.”

In Europe, countries including Germany, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic have allowed the usa of medical cannabis, though each country has its own set of laws on it. Canada and Australia have also made medical marijuana legal.

South American countries with drug cartels have moved to legalize medical marijuana, including Mexico and Uruguay.

“Ang katotohanan po ngayon sa mga progresibong bansa/ Firstworld (sic) countries ay tinatanggap na po ang medical marijuana/canabis para magkaroon ng natural healing choice ang mga tao nila kaysa matorture sa GAMOT ng mga Big Pharma at MATUNAW sa Chemotheraphy (sic),” the actor said.

(The truth is that progressive nations/first world countries accept medical marijuana/cannabis for citizens to have a natural healing choice, instead of being tortured by medicines from big pharmaceuticals and fade away from chemotherapy.)

He claimed that democracy is measured through how majority of people’s needs are met rather than awareness on wrong beliefs.

“Ang Demokrasya ay nasusukat sa pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng karamihan ng mga tao hindi dahil sa pagkamulat sa maling paniniwala,” he said.

(Democracy is measured through the response to majority of people’s needs, not awareness on wrong beliefs.)

“Ang Demokrasya ay kalayaan sa pagpili/ Freedom of choice lalo sa oras na ang tao ay may karamdaman lalo kung Terminal,” he added.

(Democracy is freedom of choice especially in times when a person has a terminal illness.)

Padilla also put forward that medical marijuana would make treatment for cancer and other illnesses more accessible to Filipinos.

“May pera man o wala ang Halaman ay walang pinipili hindi ka tatanggihan at hindi kailangan mamalimos kahit kanino walang dahilan para ipagdamot sa mga Pilipinong may cancer ang kalayaan para piliin ang Natural Healing,” he stressed.

(Whether you have money or not, a plant will not choose or reject and one will not need to beg. There is no reason to withhold the choice of natural healing from Filipinos with cancer.)

Padilla has been a staunch supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has expressed favor towards legalizing medical marijuana.

In September 2017, the Congress’ health committee endorsed a bill which would legalize cannabis for chronic or debilitating conditions.

In his post, Padilla cited a United States patent from the British company GW Pharmaceuticals, which states that the use of certain cannabinoids can treat prostate cancer, breast cancer or colon cancer.

“Cannabis cures cancer. Big Pharma has the patent to prove it,” the statement said.

GW Pharmaceuticals developed and commercialized Sativex, a mouth spray with cannabinoids to treat patients with multiple sclerosis. However, the cost is still too steep: in Chile, it costs $5,200 (P270,000) per shipment, such that a new bill proposes legalizing growing marijuana at home.

While the debate to legalize marijuana is bound to make more turns, in December 2017, the World Health Organization said medical marijuana can be used without getting addicted to it. JB

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