The Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society

"It was time for a different path...". 

There were a few days that made a significant difference in Rhythm's path.  Already on Rivotril, Valproic Acid and Phenobarbitol, Rhythm contracted a really bad cold in July of 2016.  She had an appointment at the Asian Hospital in Alabang, Philippines and was likely looking at additional medication on top of the witches brew she was already on to now attack her cold.  How much can a little body take?  Pharmaceutical Hell was only getting worse.

Jen was at her wits end.  She desperately wanted to get Rhythm off these medications but was worried about how it would impact Rhythm.  Withdrawing from these drugs is not easy, and an abrupt withdrawal could be damaging.  Jen was with some family members staying at a hotel near the Asian hospital.  While talking to the desk clerk at check in, Rhythm had a very bad seizure.  The desk clerk asked if it was a seizure and Jen confirmed.  The desk clerk then asked Jen if she had heard that medical cannabis had sometimes been used to treat really bad seizures.  Jen hadn't really looked into that, but as with everything that could be a potential new path for Rhythm and her treatment, she would do her research.

Jen also received a message from a friend named Darwin that day, and he mentioned that medical cannabis was definitely a viable option, not knowing that Jen had a conversation with that desk clerk about it.  Jen took this as a sign. The problem was that cannabis in all forms was illegal in the Philippines.  Darwin referred her to a group that was a staunch advocate of medical cannabis legalization called the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society, also known as PCCS.  Jen instantly joined their Facebook group and was determined to learn everything she could about medical cannabis and how it could help with Infantile Spasms and Epilepsy.

I asked one of the founding members of PCCS, Kimmi Del Prado, a few questions about the group and it's mission.

Goals and mission of the group.

The goal of the group is to engage in policy making to help patients get safe access to medical cannabis.

How did it form?

PCCS is formerly known as Moms for Marijuana Philippines. As to how and why, here goes. College years. I’ve never encountered a plant as controversial as marijuana. It is heavily present in pop culture and subculture, from the past up to the present, and yet so popular as well in anti drug campaigns. Surely, there must be something about this plant.

One side of the story tells about the horrors this plant will bring once you allow yourself to fall under its spell. Another tells about how it is used as part of religious ceremonies and traditional practice from the past, as well as the present. Then there’s the conspiracy theory about how one person named Harry Anslinger changed the fate of marijuana. Mind you, that’s not just in the US, that little move rippled all over the world - making marijuana one of the most hated drugs in the war on drugs.

Moving forward. As I transitioned to being a mother, I thought it would be a great idea to come together with fellow moms who are as interested and passionate about cannabis as myself. I came across this group on Facebook called Moms for Marijuana. I wrote them an email asking if there is an existing chapter in the Philippines, fortunately, there was none. After several email exchanges, I was granted the Philippine Moms for Marijuana Facebook page. I became the chapter leader as well as the main admin of the page.

My role as a chapter leader is to change the negative perception of cannabis. The organization believes that lifting the ban on cannabis can literally and figuratively heal the world. It’s cultural, spiritual, industrial - sustainable economy towards a green and thriving future.

Part of my job is to familiarize myself with the current status of the cannabis culture. I looked online for local cannabis communities where I chanced upon the case of a couple looking to find a cure for their daughter’s medical condition.

Their daughter, Moon Jaden, had Dravet Syndrome, a rare form of seizure with high fatality rate. In a forum of stoners and (illegal) growers, there was a couple asking where to buy cannabis for their daughter. I thought it was a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

I got in touch with the couple. I asked them if I could share their story on our Facebook page to let people know that there is also a need for medical cannabis in the country. That was during the time Dr Sanjay Gupta took back what he said about cannabis. He said he was sorry that he didn’t look hard enough and it took one girl to convince him to change his mind.

He followed the story of a young girl named Charlotte Figi, also suffering from Dravet Syndrome. Her parents had apprehensions when they learned about cannabis. Coming from military families, choosing cannabis was a crucial point in their life. It was a make or break decision. They found a cannabis strain that brought almost instant result, Charlotte’s seizure dramatically decreased - disappeared even.

The couple’s daughter, Moon Jaden, was then comatose in the hospital. I started putting up campaign posters for her. I didn’t know how to help, what to do. So I started posting updates about her. I put out their contact info, bank account. I wanted people to go directly to them to offer any kind of help they can.

What resulted was the birth of a community of cannabis advocates - mostly mothers, with sons and daughters with the same condition, they were all looking for a cure.

During that time, the mother organization was going through internal issues that I had to cut ties and start all over again with a new organization. It wasn’t a good timing to be out in media with the mother organization facing problems. That became the transition of Moms for Marijuana Philippines to Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society.

Volunteers started sending messages. People wanted to get involved in the advocacy. People started coming together with one goal = To give people safe access to medical cannabis. It was a sad state that we have lives on hold waiting to use cannabis. We found ourselves talking to lawmakers, asking them to help us find ways to get cannabis.

We met Congressman Rodito Albano of Isabella who set up a meeting with PCCS, he wanted to know what we need to do to have it available in the Philippines. After several meetings, we were able to file a bill in congress, unfortunately, it didn’t get past second reading. We had to refile it under the new administration and luckily, with the collective efforts, we now have Bill HB180.

As to how I met Jen. PCCS is more of a family than an advocacy group. We take care of each other. We put strong emphasis on family values, hence, when someone hears of a story of a child or an adult patient who could benefit from cannabis, they would refer them to us. We have a group chat, we have regular meetings, fellowship.

While waiting to have access to cannabis, these mothers, family members gained new shoulders to cry on. Everyone treated each other like family, because finally they can talk to someone who was going through the same daily struggles and frustrations.

Having a sick child is one of the worst thing a parent could experience. Jen was referred to me by a Facebook friend. And the rest as they say is history…

Social media outreaches and how that has connected you to supporters.

Facebook plays a very important role. Without it, we wouldn’t have gone this far. Facebook is where we started, and Facebook is where we continue to fight for safe access.

The status of HB180 and how PCCS has helped influence that.

HB180 will have its Technical Working Group meeting on Thursday, May 11. It has gone through the first stage, which is the committee hearing, the resolution was to create a Technical Working Group to  help refine the bill to make it applicable to the Philippine setting. PCCS was heavily involved in the conception and drafting of the bill. We are fortunate that we are given the voice to speak in behalf of all of those wanting safe access to cannabis.

Jen began to slowly wean Rhythm off of Rivotril, Valproic Acid and Phenobarbitol.  In it's place were more natural options like Frankincense and specially formulated dietary options like Reliv.  Something to bide her time until she could go to the United States, where there were many options to try medical cannabis and was only a short time away from happening.  Not surprisingly, Rhythm's mood brightened as she began to shake off the haze that those medications left her in.  More smiles, more activity and a little more life.  But those damn seizures remained.

Finding PCCS gave Jen hope that there were options beyond the pharmaceutical drugs with the horrific side effects.  She became an advocate herself, fighting not only for Rhythm to be able to have access to medical cannabis to treat her seizures, but for all people in the Philippines who need it to have unfettered access to it.  She was on a mission.

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