Medical Use of Cannabis in the

Cordillera (Philippines)

Jacqueline 1
Dominguez , Antonio Ma. Fe de 2
Ligsay ,
Madeline 1
Guzman , 3
Landicho ,
3 1 1
Jem Javier , Kate Marra , Boots Natividad , Jeffrey Domingo 1

1 Institute for Neurosciences, St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines; College of Medicine, 2

St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City, Philippines; 3 Department of Anthropology, University of the
Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

Background
• Possession and use of cannabis in any form is illegal in the
Philippines and therefore research on cannabis is nil.
• The considerable areas in the northern region of Cordillera,
Philippines is popularly known for its agricultural land where
growth of cannabis is also naturally found.
• Currently, there is a move in the Philippine Congress for “an Act
Providing Compassionate and Right of Access to Medical
Cannabis and Expanding Research of its Medicinal Properties”,
yet it is still under process and debate for further legislative
action.
Objectives
The general objective of this study was to document existing
practices on the production, processing and use of medical
cannabis in the region of Cordillera, Philippines.
Methodology
• This is a descriptive qualitative study using a case series
design, conducted through in-depth interviews, focused group
discussions and participant observations of key informants.
• Convenience and snowball sampling was used to recruit
participants until data saturation was met.
• Participants are residents in the Cordillera who were able and
willing to provide verbal consent and had knowledge on any of
the aspects related to medical cannabis.
• Recorded interviews were transcribed, translated and data
were organized based on details involved in production,
preparation, and use of medical cannabis.
• Case summaries and thematic table was done for analysis.
• This study was given permission by the Dangerous Drug Board,
Philippines and approved by the St. Cabrini Medical Center –
Asian Eye Institute Ethics Review Committee.

Results - Cannabis leaves – most use, boiled as tea or grounded as topical

Participants Characteristics: A total of 10 key informants ointment, common part distilled as oil.
participated in the study. Age range from 18 to 76 years • Cannabis bud (found in cattail balahibo, balingkukudong & buntot-pusa) –
old, majority were male (65%). The educational and most potent can be process as tea and “chocolate bar”.
economic background varies. They were students, • “Usbong” or cannabis shoot – most expensive and very potent part
informal workers, private or public employees, local • Leaves, buds, shoots and flowers can be distilled as cannabis oil
government executives and several retired senior citizens.
Medical Conditions Cannabis Use and Forms
The Cannabis Plant: Dermatological: Wounds, • orally given as boiled leaves (either fresh or dried)
- Cannabis is not indigenous and its use for skin ulcerations, scabies, • boiled leaves as “panglanggas” or wound cleanser
medical purposes is a new knowledge and rashes, allergies, itchiness, • grounded leaves topically administered to affected
practice in the Cordilleras. and even insect bites and areas
• “Not recalled to be used as medicines in their younger other skin infections • fresh cannabis leaves applied to wounds as
years” (Consensus among participants aged anesthetic and prophylactic antibiotic when for
seventies) stitching or dressing open wounds.
Neurological & • orally given as boiled leaves (either fresh or dried)
• Recalled to be introduced during the American • cannabis oil mixed with other beverages (water, tea,
Psychological: Sleep
occupation period (US army at Camp John Hay, 1960). milk, coffee)
disturbances, anxiety,
• In 1970’s, some ‘foreigner’ (Europeans probably concentration, seizures
British) taught the locals about the cultivation of Gastrointestinal problems: • administration is oral by drinking boiled cannabis
cannabis, processing & cooking in order to turn it into loss of appetite, leaves, either fresh or dried
oil for medicinal use. stomachache, abdominal
• The species that grows there is Cannabis sativa but pain and constipation
hybrids may have emerged: “Compared with the variety Pains associated with • small amount of cannabis oil (half-dipped toothpick)
of plants found decades before, this hybrid grows faster other medical conditions then mixed with warm drink (e.g. water, juice,
and has larger leaves, so more juice can be extracted.” (e.g. muscle pains, arthritis, coffee)
• Local names: Balingkukudong (referring to the cattail sinusitis, dysmenorrhea, • boiled fresh cannabis leaves orally taken as a
species), Bob Marley, Cambodia, five fingers, green gold, toothaches, wound pains) regular cup of tea (around 200-250ml)
hashes, Jamaican grass, Mary Jane, MJ, peds (from • ground cannabis leaves are also used as topical
pedped or smoking), Sagada grass & tonghorn. remedy for dental pain (toothache)

CONCLUSION: Medical cannabis has been used for decades in the Cordillera. It is considered by some locals as herbal medicine. Major
health benefits are documented in pain, sleep disturbance and mental health. Addiction was not reported and very limited adverse events. This
preliminary result will spur basic knowledge and clinical research to support safe and judicious use of medical cannabis in the Philippines.

Funding: This study was funded by the Philippine Institute for Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) of the Department of Health
Contact: Jacqueline Dominguez, MD, MA (Project leader) jcdominguez@stlukes.com.ph