Senator Grace Poe said on Tuesday she is open to legalize marijuana in the country but for medical needs only.
According to Poe, marijuana could be distributed to hospitals but its use and distribution should be under the supervision of doctors.
“Kung sa hospital, at least may doctor doon tapos hindi lahat basta makakakuha,” she said when asked on her stand on allowing medical marijuana in the country in an interview with ABS CBN News Channel.
“Tapos yung doctor, kunwari may allotment ka, nagreseta ka ng 100 sa isang buwan, sino ang mga recipients nyan? Para hindi rin pwede magbenta yung mga doctor on the side,” Poe added.
The senator warned that the use of marijuana may be abused if marijuana is legalized in the country.
“If you have marijuana, that’s so accessible. People will just stay nalang siguro at home and then bench out,” Poe said
The question was raised to Poe a day after the admission of President Rodrigo Duterte that he was taking marijuana to keep him awake after his hectic schedule.
READ: Duterte admits using marijuana to keep him awake
Duterte immediately retracted his claim and said that it was just a joke.
READ: Duterte on ‘admission’ to marijuana use: ‘It was a joke’
Poe said that she is not surprised by the President’s joking statements, saying that she “get used to it in a way.”
“I was not surprised not because I thought that he did that, but the President has said many explosive things,” Poe said.
“Admittedly, a lot were kind of… We’re not used to it, but maybe I have come to get used to it in a way,” she added. /muf
READ: Poe on Duterte: I have come to get used to his ‘explosive’ jokes