Medical marijuana needs more research before legalization —Duque

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said more research should be done first before legalizing the use of marijuana even for medicinal purposes.

"There has to be more studies to back it,” Duque said in an interview on ANC, pointing out that these studies should guide lawmakers in deciding whether or not to legalize medical marijuana.

He also said he doubts if President Rodrigo Duterte is serious when he said that he is willing to sign any bill legalizing marijuana.

"I don't think he was serious about it," Duque said. "Unless he calls for me and really sit down and discuss it, then I will consider his position as rather serious."

Duque said marijuana can be used for palliative care that can help patients deal with pain, nausea and vomiting, but should not be considered as "cure."

"Some physicians are saying like for example in control of seizures, they have evidence to show that this is more effective," he said.

According to Duque, if ever medical marijuana is legalized, it cannot be smoked in its raw form but will be processed and usually encapsulated.

He also said marijuana use could be risky.

"Ano ang potential risk? Marami din. Distance perceptions, siyempre that can lead to motor vehicular accidents. It can also trigger psychosis like schizophrenia,” he said.

Duque said the Department of Health is not opposed to the use of medical marijuana, but judging from the documents he received, he said it is not yet the time for its legalization.

"Before I came in, DOH was not opposed to the legalization of the use of marijuana for strictly medical and research purposes,” Duque said

"When I had gotten more documents from credible third parties, UPNIH (University of the Philippine National Institutes Of Health) for example, had given a list why it might not be the time to legalize this even for medical purposes,” he added.

According to Duque, medical marijuana should not be legalized yet due to the scarcity of information about its benefits and risks.

"Ang problema nga dito, we have a scarcity of information about the benefits as claimed versus the potential risks because at the end of the day we have to weigh,” he said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News