The Philippines Congress is well on the way to replacing...

The Philippines Congress is well on the way to replacing the 30-year-old Dangerous Drugs Act with a far more stringent measure that includes the death penalty for possession of a mere five grams of marijuana resin and other illegal drugs.
The House committees on dangerous drugs, public order and security, and appropriations submitted to Speaker Jose de Venecia on February 20 their report on the proposed Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, or House Bill No. 4433.
The bill consolidates 23 bills sponsored by 34 congressmen and will repeal RA 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.
The Senate has yet to come up with its own committee report.
The proposed law has increased the penalties and fines for possession not just of illegal drugs but of "controlled precursors and essential chemicals."
Those found in possession of five grams or more of opium, morphine, methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, heroin, marijuana resin oil, cocaine and drugs with no therapeutic value, or 200 grams or more of marijuana will face the maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million.
The maximum penalty is to be imposed also on those found importing, selling, administering, delivering, distributing, transporting and manufacturing dangerous drugs as well as maintaining a "den, dive or resort where any dangerous drug is used in any form."