WHY IT MATTERS: Patients in the Philippines who might benefit from cannabis-based therapies for conditions like chronic pain or epilepsy are directly affected by whether lawmakers build a regulated, medically supervised program or stall indefinitely due to fear-based opposition. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: The debate over medical cannabis legalization in the Philippines centers on legitimate concerns about regulatory infrastructure, diversion risk, and whether the healthcare system has the capacity to oversee a new therapeutic category responsibly. Opponents raise valid points about the need for physician education, product quality standards, and enforcement mechanisms before any framework goes live.