Palace reiterates Duterte support for medical marijuana after smoking pot joke

President Rodrigo Duterte is in favor of proposals in Congress to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“The President has already made a statement on that prior. For purposes of medicine, to heal, he’s in favor. But not for use other than that,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference.

A month before he assumed the presidency, Duterte said in May 2016 that marijuana was already an “ingredient of modern medicine.”

The President, however, is against the use of marijuana for recreational purposes which is punishable by law.

Panelo’s statement came a day after Duterte joked that he uses marijuana to stay awake to cope with his busy schedule.

The President said he was just “shaking the tree” meant to dispel boredom during formal events.

In stressing that Duterte was not serious when he cracked the supposed joke about marijuana, Panelo said that using the illegal drug to keep oneself awake does not make sense.

Marijuana's effect varies from person to person, but it can act both as a stimulant and depressant.

A bill filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros seeks a comprehensive public health approach to the country’s drug-related policy. It is also proposing the use of marijuana “to treat or alleviate a patient’s medical condition or symptoms associated with his or her debilitating disease” subject to the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Hontiveros’ colleagues are divided on the proposal. — MDM, GMA News