‘No legalized medical marijuana under Duterte administration’

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte will not allow the legalized use of medical marijuana during his term, Malacañang reiterated on Tuesday.

“I asked him outright. Sabi ko, Mr. President, ‘yung sa legalization of marijuana? Absolute yes, he doesn’t like [legalizing it],” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo said Duterte believed that legalizing marijuana for medical purposes would be used as an excuse to abuse the weed.

“He feels that you will be using that as an excuse. [The problem] might just get bigger. That’s why he said not during my time. In another time maybe, he said,” Panelo shared.

In a speech last Friday in Negros Occidental, Duterte announced that he changed his position and stressed that he is no longer in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. / gsg

READ: Change of heart? Duterte now opposes legalization of medical marijuana