(Eagle News)—President Rodrigo Duterte is “absolutely” against the legalization of marijuana, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated on Tuesday, March 12.
Panelo issued the statement three days after Duterte himself said he did not want the legalization, saying unscrupulous individuals might use the “for medicinal purposes only” as an excuse to grow the illegal drugs for distribution to customers who use them for leisure.
“I asked him outright. Sabi ko, Mr. President, ‘yung sa legalization of marijuana? Absolute. Yes, he doesn’t like [it],” Panelo said.
Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there needed to be “definitive findings” on the so-called medicinal effects of marijuana before the drug is legalized.
The Palace, however, expressed support for the legalization of such in statements prior to Duterte’s speech against the same on Friday, March 8.
