MANILA - House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday said she uses a marijuana-based pain patch to address pain in her cervical spine.

Arroyo, an author of the bill legalizing the medical use of marijuana, said she only uses the pain patch in countries that allow it.

”Well, as you know I am an author of that. I really believe in medical cannabis. As you know I have my problem here (cervical spine) and when I’m in a country that allows it, I put a pain patch but here in the Philippines I cannot do it," Arroyo said at a chance interview.

"So I authored that bill because I believe that it can help me and many other people but there was a lot of objection to the bill from the House and from the Senate. That’s why we are just letting the legislative process take its course. Right now it’s on second reading.”

Malacañang earlier said President Rodrigo Duterte will support any bill that will seek the legalization of medical marijuana.

• Palace: Duterte willing to sign any medical marijuana bill

Duterte had stirred controversy by saying that he sometimes takes the substance to stay awake.

• Joke only: Duterte says he takes marijuana

There was a renewed public discussion on medical marijuana after Miss Universe Catriona Gray was asked about her opinion on the legalization of the substance during the pageant's question and answer portion, to which she replied that she backs its "medical use but not so for recreational use."

Some doctors have opposed medical cannabis, saying its efficacy has yet to be confirmed. The use of medical marijuana is legal in California and some other parts of the United States, Canada, and Poland, among others.

--Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News