If members of Uruguay’s Senate pass a bill to legalize marijuana, the South American nation will become the first country in the world to regulate the production, distribution and sale of marijuana. If passed by the Senate as expected, the law could be in effect as early as the end of August.
The legalization legislation was passed by the country’s House of Representatives Wednesday and is backed by Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica, who reasoned that legalizing the drug will remove profits from drug dealers and keep drug users from choosing harder drugs.
While Uruguay has not borne the brunt of the bloodshed caused by drug trafficking in South America, the black market drug industry has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths throughout Latin America. Since many of the South American nation’s neighboring countries are closely watching this issue play out, if the legislation is successfully enacted, some speculate other nations throughout Latin America may also move to legalize the drug.
Different from recreational legalization laws in Washington state and Colorado, buyers would be required to be registered in a database as users and be at least 18 years old.
In the two U.S. states that passed recreational legalization laws, users have to be at least 21 years old, but they do not have to be registered. The only persons in the U.S. who are required to be registered in a database or program in order to buy marijuana are those who use marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Marijuana users in Uruguay would be able to buy up to 1.4 ounces per month, or 40 grams, in specially licensed pharmacies, or they can grow up to six plants at home. Uruguayans would also be allowed to form cooperatives and cultivate up to 99 plants.
Americans thinking about planning a trip to Uruguay to smoke legal pot should look elsewhere as the bill would not extend to foreigners.
If marijuana is legalized in Uruguay, only the government would legally be allowed to sell the substance. According to the legislation, the state would assume “the control and regulation of the importation, exportation, plantation, cultivation, the harvest, the production, the acquisition, the storage, the commercialization and the distribution of cannabis and its by-products.”
Said Laura Blanco, president of Uruguay’s Cannabis Studies Association, “This is a very innovative bill,” since the state would “regulate the entire chain of production, distribution and access to the substance. Blanco agreed that the bill was “encouraging” to other Latin American nations who may also consider legalizing marijuana to lessen street crime and drug trafficking.
Politics of legalization
After a 13-hour debate, House members voted 50 to 46 in favor of the legalization bill. Supporters argued that the war on drugs and attempts to prevent drug trafficking had failed and that the country needed to try something new.
Sebastian Sabini is a member of the governing center-left Frente Amplio (Broad Front) coalition, which has a narrow majority in the lower house. He said he voted for the bill because “The regulation is not to promote consumption; consumption already exists.”
According to Uruguay’s National Drugs Committee, marijuana use has doubled in the country during the past year, and an estimated 22 tons of marijuana are sold annually in Uruguay alone.
Gerardo Amarilla is a House member who belongs to the National Party, which largely opposed the legalization measure. He said the government was “playing with fire” by attempting to legalize marijuana, and cited alleged health risks linked to marijuana use.
“This is an adventure which may end up endangering an entire generation,” he said, adding that legalizing marijuana “will not end the black market.”
During the House’s deliberations, the BBC reported that many were watching member Dario Perez of the Frente Amplio coalition, who, unlike most in his party, was against the bill.
According to the BBC, if Perez voted against the bill, many others in his party may have followed and as a result killed the legislation. Perez gave a 20 minute speech before the vote in which he said that the government should not “impose” marijuana legalization, but should put the issue to a referendum and let the Uruguayan voters decide. In the end Perez decided to vote along party lines in favor of the bill.
After passing the House the bill was sent to the Senate where a vote was expected Thursday. Since the more liberal Frente Amplio coalition has a larger presence in the Senate than it does in the House, many expect the bill to pass.
Politicians opposed to the marijuana legalization proposal say that even if the Senate passes the legislation they will launch a petition to overturn it.
Though many Uruguayans may use marijuana, a survey conducted before the House vote took place by the polling organization Cifra found that 63 percent of Uruguayans opposed the bill. Why they oppose the bill was not part of the poll. And while marijuana is not legal in Uruguay, the New York Times has reported that many law enforcement authorities largely tolerate its use.
Small yet progressive
Under Mujica, 78, Uruguay has become a leader in exploring socially liberal policies. Though small in size, at about 3.3 million people, Uruguay has tackled large social issues in recent years including a groundbreaking abortion rights law, legalization of same-sex marriage and renewable energy.
Marijuana legalization has been discussed in the nation for more than a year, but Mujica reportedly asked legislators to postpone voting on the bill since polls were not in favor of legalizing marijuana.
John Walsh is an analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights group. He told The New York Times that “This vote is destined to have a big impact, with regional and even global repercussions for drug policy.
“Uruguay’s timing is right,” he said. “Because of last year’s Colorado and Washington State votes to legalize, the U.S. government is in no position to browbeat Uruguay or others who may follow.”