Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize the marijuana trade on Tuesday in a 16-13 vote. Supporters of the law gathered near Congress holding green balloons and Jamaican flags in homage to Bob Marley.
The vote was 16 to 13, with the governing Broad Front majority united in favour. The plan now awaits the signature of President Jose Mujica, who wants the market to begin operating next year.
The government will also set up a database of adults registered to consume marijuana, and will enforce limits of marijuana purchased (40 grams a month) or marijuana plants grown (six allowed at home).
Cannabis has long been legal for personal use in Uruguay, but growing, selling, or buying it was publishable with a prison term. Marijuana consumption is popular in the country with about 120,000 of the country’s 3.4 million population saying they partake at least once a year, according to the National Drug Council.
Marijuana legalization efforts have gained momentum across the Americas in recent years as leaders watch the death toll rise from military responses to unabated drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America. Presidents Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala also have called for reforms, and a recent report by a commission of the Organization of American States encouraged new approaches, including legalization of marijuana.
The vote was 16 to 13, with the governing Broad Front majority united in favour. The plan now awaits the signature of President Jose Mujica, who wants the market to begin operating next year.
The government will also set up a database of adults registered to consume marijuana, and will enforce limits of marijuana purchased (40 grams a month) or marijuana plants grown (six allowed at home).
Cannabis has long been legal for personal use in Uruguay, but growing, selling, or buying it was publishable with a prison term. Marijuana consumption is popular in the country with about 120,000 of the country’s 3.4 million population saying they partake at least once a year, according to the National Drug Council.
Marijuana legalization efforts have gained momentum across the Americas in recent years as leaders watch the death toll rise from military responses to unabated drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America. Presidents Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and Otto Perez Molina of Guatemala also have called for reforms, and a recent report by a commission of the Organization of American States encouraged new approaches, including legalization of marijuana.
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