The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have expressed their support for reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa revealed during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget.
“Wala pong problema sa PDEA. They are willing to do everything to downgrade marijuana (PDEA has no problem with this. They are willing to downgrade marijuana),” said Dela Rosa, the sponsor of the budget for both agencies.
Legal Hurdles Under RA 9165
Despite their willingness, Dela Rosa emphasized the need to amend Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Marijuana is listed as a prohibited substance under the law, and the DDB cannot reclassify it without first removing it from the act’s annex.
“Ang problema kasi… marijuana is annexed in RA 9165. ‘Yung limitation ng kanilang power to reclassify ay dapat matanggal muna (The problem is marijuana is annexed in RA 9165. The limitation to reclassify must be addressed by removing it from the annex),” Dela Rosa explained.
Official Support for Reclassification
The DDB and PDEA have formally signified their support for efforts to reclassify marijuana. “They’re very much willing to do everything… to cooperate,” Dela Rosa added.
Global Context
This push aligns with global developments. In 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs reclassified marijuana and its derivatives as less dangerous, opening opportunities for scientific research on its medicinal potential.
The United States followed suit in May 2024, with the Biden administration formally proposing to downgrade marijuana’s classification.
While marijuana remains tightly regulated under international conventions, these changes signify growing recognition of its medical and therapeutic value.