When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency in 2016, he said he was open to the legalization of medical marijuana, but on Friday, he changed his tune.
During a speech at the campaign rally of his party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan on Friday in Negros Occidental, Duterte said he will reject the legalization of medical marijuana because people might use it as an excuse to smoke pot recreationally.
Speaking in front of the crowd in Victorias City, Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English: “This medical marijuana [bill], I did this [makes thumbs down sign]. Everyone [smoking recreationally] will just say they’re using it for medicinal [purposes].”
He added: “I will not allow it. Not in my time, not in my time. Maybe some other president.”
He admitted too that he was not knowledgeable about the benefits of using medical marijuana. “I am ignorant of that kind of research,” he said.
“I must admit that I do not read it and I do not intend to legalize [it]. I won’t. You will just use that as an excuse [to smoke recreationally]. You will plant your own, then you’ll say, ‘But this is medicinal.'”
Duterte spoke about his openness to legalizing medical marijuana as early as 2016 after he won the presidency.
In December, he even admitted to using marijuana to stay awake at last year’s ASEAN Summit in Singapore. Many were outraged because Duterte is supposedly tough on drugs, as seen in his deadly drug war that has claimed thousands of lives.
However, his admission also put the issue of medical marijuana under the spotlight and encouraged many to back it up. Miss Universe Catriona Gray even said during the pageant that she supports its legalization.
A few weeks after that, House Bill No. 6517, or the Philippine Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, was passed at the third and final reading by the House of Representatives in January. The bill seeks to allow the use of medical marijuana for those suffering from debilitating illness.
Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo lauded its passing and even said that the president has always supported it. Prior to that, Panelo also said that the president will sign any bill supporting his pro-medical marijuana stance.
Medical marijuana can reportedly be used to treat glaucoma, manage epilepsy, muscle spasms, and certain mental health conditions, among others.
