Uruguay government to control cannabis production and distribution

Smoking cannabis has been legal in Uruguay since 1974, although its production and distribution has not been. Youngsters are free to smoke cannabis in open public places; however, this may soon be changing, as the government of Uruguay has announced plans to start regulating cannabis.

Uruguay has just passed a new law allowing the state to control the production of cannabis; it is just waiting for the president to sign the bill. President Jose Mujica is behind the new law, so it is just a matter of course before the new law is passed.

Under the new rules everybody will be able to legally grow their own cannabis, as long as they abide by the rules. The National Institute for Cannabis Regulation will even provide people with seeds and give advice on how to manage the crop. One of the rules set out is that an individual cannot grow more than 480g of cannabis per year.

Cristian, a cannabis user and illegal grower, said: “I think it was about time that cannabis became legal. Police should worry about fighting crime and drug trafficking, not me.”

The new law requires all buyers to register themselves as a user. Cannabis users will be restricted to 40g per month.

The idea is to provide users with a safe, legal amount of cannabis, with the aim being to take most of the cannabis trade away from the drug cartels.

Uruguay will be the most liberal country with respect to cannabis use. Users in the Netherlands are now allowed by law to grow it. Other South American countries will be watching Uruguay with interest over the next year. Uruguay is a small country and has largely avoided the problems caused by large drug gangs, but last year 82 people were killed in drug-related violence.