During the protest against the 5th state of the nation address (SONA) of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, some protesters lobbied for the legalization of cannabis or marijuana in the Philippines. According to the group cannabis has medical properties and that marijuana is a plant, an organic gift from nature and it should not be banned and use with caution.

But cannabis is considered as illegal drugs in the Philippines and users are apprehended or worst got killed. Since taking office on June 30, 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has carried out a “war on drugs” that has led to the deaths of over 12,000 Filipinos to date, mostly urban poor. At least 2,555 of the killings have been attributed to the Philippine National Police.