WHY IT MATTERS: Patients using medical cannabis should know that a formal diagnosis or physician recommendation does not eliminate the risk of developing Cannabis Use Disorder, and open communication with your prescribing doctor about frequency and dosage is essential for long-term safety. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Cannabis Use Disorder is a clinically recognized condition characterized by continued use despite negative consequences, with estimated prevalence rates ranging from roughly 9% of all users to as high as 33% among daily users. The medicalization of cannabis has created a complex dynamic where legitimate therapeutic access may, in some patients, lower the perceived risk of the substance and contribute to problematic use patterns.
Health advocate underscores ‘real danger’ in medical cannabis legalization in PH
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.
Cannabis Use in Older Adults Is Rising—Now What?
Older adults are turning to cannabis in record numbers—but you wouldn’t know it from most medical offices. This isn’t a rebellion—it’s a quiet referendum on how we handle chronic illness, aging, and autonomy. The question isn’t whether it’s happening—the question is: where are the doctors?