Manila: President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday told an audience that he was taking cannabis to enable him to cope with his hectic schedule.
Describing his recent experience during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit last month in Singapore, where meetings and conferences are held close to one another, the 73-year-old Philippine leader said he had to take cannabis to stay alert.
“It was a [physically] killing activity. I think that at my age, it would be difficult for me to take the stress so I take marijuana to keep alert,” the president said in a speech at the presidential palace, while conferring rites to Organising Council officials of the Asean.
He later claimed the comment was just a joke. Speaking later in the day, Duterte, known for his brash style, brushed aside allegations he had caused offence with his marijuana comment.
"It was a joke, of course it was a joke, but nobody can stop me from just doing my style," he said, adding that anybody who took it seriously was "stupid".
However, the joke was not taken lightly by many in the Philippines where possession of marijuana carries a lengthy prison sentence.
According to the online medical reference “healthline.com” cannabis can have a variety of effects on a person.
“It can make some people tired or relaxed and give others an energy boost and increase alertness. It can also help to treat mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, in some people. In others, it can actually cause anxiety over time. As a result, weed can be considered a depressant, stimulant, or hallucinogen,” healthline.com said.
Questions over his actual physical condition had been hounding Duterte well before he became president.
He had admitted before that he has “Barret’s Oesophagus”, an intestinal disorder.
Also on Monday, the president said he agrees with suggestions that the palace release medical bulletins on his physical condition.
“The question was whether or not the President should issue a medical bulletin in case of serious illness. The President agrees with that,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
Duterte had several months ago to have taken tests for possible cancer. The examinations turned out negative, the president said.
