Malacañang said yesterday that it is possible that President Duterte thumbed down the legalization of medical marijuana because of the lack of safeguards on how it will be used.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after the President on Friday changed his mind about supporting the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Panelo said he is not sure why the President made such statement but assured that he will ask him if he is really opposing the move now.
“You know I’m not sure exactly his statement, whether it was a general change of mind or he’s only referring to specific. In fact that’s one of the questions I have in mind to ask him later,” Panelo said.
However, Panelo raised that Duterte may just want better safeguards presented before agreeing to legalize medical cannabis.
“Puwede rin naman na kaya niya sinabi ‘yun baka kailangan ng maraming safeguards. Kasi nga as you said baka gamitin niyo lang ‘yan later on,” he said. “Kung walang safeguards talagang puputok ‘yan,” he added.
Panelo also said that Duterte is possibly rejecting the move to legalize medical marijuana because he is not well-informed about how it can benefit certain cases.
“Baka kailangan mapaalam kay Presidente yung importance ng legalization with respect to specific cases of sickness,” he said. (Argyll Geducos)
