Uruguay: 1st country in the world to make it legal to grow, sell and consume MJ

[Peeperkorn]

Uruguay has become the first country in the world to make it legal to grow, sell and consume marijuana.

After nearly 12 hours of debate, senators gave the government-sponsored bill their historic final approval.



The law allowing registered Uruguayans over 18 to buy up to 40g (1,4oz) of the drug a month is not expected to come into force before April.

The government hopes it will help tackle drug cartels, but critics say it will expose more people to drugs.

Dozens of supporters of the bill proposed by the left-wing President Jose Mujica gathered outside the Congress in Montevideo to follow the vote.

Presenting the bill to fellow Senators, Roberto Conde said it was an unavoidable response to reality, given that the "war" against drugs had failed.
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"We have the duty as the state to give a specific answer to an open territory, small and non-producing," Mr Conde said, adding that Uruguay's borders are used by cartels to smuggle drugs into neighbouring countries.
'Experiment on people'

But many senators also spoke out against the bill, before it was passed by 16 votes to 13 on Tuesday.

The opposition member Alfredo Solari said Uruguay should not "experiment" on its people.

"This project envisages a social engineering experiment and respects none of the ethic safeguards of experimentation on human beings, and these are important in the case of a substance like marijuana, which causes damage to human beings," Senator Solari told Reuters news agency.

The project had already been approved by Uruguay's lower house in July.

It had also drawn international criticism. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned the law would "be in complete contravention to the provisions of the international drug treaties to which Uruguay is party".


    State controls the production, distribution, commerce and consumption of marijuana
    Consumers have to be over 18 and registered
    Marijuana to be sold at licensed pharmacies
    Sales are limited to 40g (1.4oz) per month
    Registered users can grow up to six plants at home (I will plant three)

[Hatman 🍁]

Your President may be the greatest world leader right now. And, I'm not just talking about this issue.

[AkSaber]

Wish they didn't have the registration and amount requirements, but it's better than what the laws used to be.

[Zioneer]

Freedom Nation.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Actually I understand its not even the first country in South America as marijuana is already completely legal in Peru.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Your President may be the greatest world leader right now. And, I'm not just talking about this issue.

Yeah, Mujica is simply a fantastic human being.


As for this... well, let's see how it turns out. I still have mixed feelings about this issue, but I guess legalization is worth a try.

[Zanas]

Uruguay keeps being awesome.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Mixed feelings? Can you explain anything wrong that might result from legal marijuana?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Freedom Nation.

Enlightened Nation.

[danny]

Freedom Nation.

[Zioneer]

Freedom Nation.

Enlightened Nation.

Nono, that's if you legalize peyote.

[Peeperkorn]

Actually I understand its not even the first country in South America as marijuana is already completely legal in Peru.

consumption =/= selling.

[Cassius]

Mixed feelings? Can you explain anything wrong that might result from legal marijuana?

More people using it negative effects arising from its consumption upon their health. I have heard that marijuana, if smoked in large quantities over a long period of time, can lead to a failing memory.

[Beezer]

I was gonna write a reply to that post but then forgot what I had wanted to say...

[Antonio the Sixth]

Can you explain anything wrong that might result from legal marijuana?

...increased Marijuana consumption.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

[Antonio the Sixth]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

Do you actually believe it has no health consequences? lol, wishful thinking

[Oakvale]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

Do you actually believe it has no health consequences? lol, wishful thinking

The health consequences are very minor. Should we ban soft drinks and steak too?

[Antonio the Sixth]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

Do you actually believe it has no health consequences? lol, wishful thinking

The health consequences are very minor. Should we ban soft drinks and steak too?

I'm pretty sure they aren't that minor.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

I'm all for legalization if it shuts up the stoners.

[AkSaber]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

Do you actually believe it has no health consequences? lol, wishful thinking

The health consequences are very minor. Should we ban soft drinks and steak too?

I'm pretty sure they aren't that minor.

But even more than alcohol?

[Oakvale]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

Do you actually believe it has no health consequences? lol, wishful thinking

The health consequences are very minor. Should we ban soft drinks and steak too?

I'm pretty sure they aren't that minor.

They're pretty minor. At the very least soft drinks and meat have a far, far, far greater impact on public health than smoking marijuana. The logical conclusion of nanny statism is not a pleasant thing.

[Antonio the Sixth]

And that's a problem?  Do you actually believe marijuana is dangerous?

Do you actually believe it has no health consequences? lol, wishful thinking

The health consequences are very minor. Should we ban soft drinks and steak too?

I'm pretty sure they aren't that minor.

They're pretty minor. At the very least soft drinks and meat have a far, far, far greater impact on public health than smoking marijuana. The logical conclusion of nanny statism is not a pleasant thing.

Look, I'm not claiming I know what the right solution is. Maybe legalization is indeed the less worse option and society can tolerate the health effects of widespread consumption (because let's face it, it's pretty obvious a lot more people will start smoking if it's legalized) without too much cost in terms of human lives lost or ruined. I'm not an expert on the medical effect of marijuana, and neither are all the pot-lovers out here (you comprised), so lets leave it there. Whatever the case, the issue is obviously not as simple as BRTD and all the upper-middle class white kids would like to think it is.

[Oakvale]

Lives lost or ruined? Come on. The cost in "lives lost or ruined" of legal marijuana is just about zero - the cost of "lives lost or ruined" by prohibition is nearly uncountable. This really is a pretty simple issue to me, I'm afraid - people should be allowed do what they want as long as it's not hurting anyone else. *shrug*

[Cassius]

What is the attraction of smoking weed? I just don't get it. So many legal narcotics to purchase, and yet people choose to go to the trouble of getting illegal dope. Why?