Change of heart? Duterte now opposes legalization of medical marijuana

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is now against the legalization of cannabis (marijuana) for medical use, saying that drug users will just use it as an “excuse” to cultivate the plant.

Ako itong medicinal (marijuana)…ginanon ko [shows thumbs down] They’ll give you the excuse to harvest for…sabihin medicinal. Lahat na lang mag-medicinal na. That would be an excuse. Hindi ako pumayag (I did not agree). Not in my time, not in my time,” Duterte said Friday in his speech at PDP-Laban’s campaign rally in Negros Occidental.

“I do not intend to legalize it,” he added. “Ayaw ko. Gawin mo lang excuse ‘yan eh. Tatanim ka ng iyo, sabihin mo medicinal man kaya ito. Kaya ‘yan ang… Sinabi ko na, kinulong ko ‘yan sila.”

(I don’t like to. They will only make that as an excuse. They will plant and say this is a medicinal plant.)

This is in contrast to his previous stand on the legalization of marijuana for medical use. Late last year, Malacañang said Duterte would sign any bill that would legalize it.

In previous press interviews, Duterte also said himself that he was in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. /ee

READ: Palace: Duterte to sign any bill legalizing medical marijuana