President Duterte Supports Use of Cannabidiol for Epilepsy
President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte supports for the use of cannabidiol (CBD) or marijuana for alleviating severe forms of epilepsy.
According to the report of PNA, Malacañang said Monday it does not see President Rodrigo Duterte has a problem with the recent landmark decision of the Dangerous Drugs Board to approve the use of cannabidiol (CBD), a pain reliever containing cannabis to treat epilepsy.
“Ever since naman iyon ang sinasabi ni Presidente. Kung medical, okay lang sa kaniya (Ever since, that’s what the President said. If it’s for medical purposes, it’s okay with him),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Panelo said Duterte is in favor of similar drugs for medicinal purposes, stressing that it would have to be a “case-to-case” basis. Panelo added that though he has to ask for the Chief Executive’s thoughts on the matter.
“Kapag kailangan na kailangan sa ikabubuhay ng isang tao at mayroong scientific findings or medical findings na puwede iyon, hindi siya kukontra. Siguro case-to-case (If it is really necessary for the people and there are scientific findings or medical findings that it could be used, he won’t oppose it. Perhaps it’s case-to-case),” he said.
The spokesman made the statement even as the President made a contrary remark in March 2019 during a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally in Negros Occidental, Duterte himself bared he is no longer in favor of the legalization of medical marijuana.
“Pero sinabi niya rin ‘pag kailangan na kailangan sa ikabubuhay ng isang tao at merong scientific findings of medical findings na puwede ‘yon, hindi siya kokontra. Siguro case to case,” Panelo said as based on the report of PNA.
He said the lack of definitive findings on the effectiveness of medical marijuana could be a reason for Duterte’s reluctance to allow its legalization. However, he said Duterte may still change his mind if definitive scientific findings confirm its advantages.
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