Uruguay Becomes First Nation to Legalize Marijuana

Uruguay Becomes First Nation to Legalize Marijuana

On Tuesday, December 13th 2013 the small South American nation of Uruguay became the first country on the planet to legalize the purchase, consumption and limited production of marijuana nationwide. The Uruguayan Senate voted on Tuesday to create a government regulated industry that will allow citizens and some visitors to grow, use, and sell many forms of marijuana, from the dried flower or “bud” of the plant to certain extracts and concentrates- some of which have been used in tribal medicine for many years.

The law will come into affect 120 days after December 13th and with it Uruguay will blaze a trail that has been tread before by many liberal areas of the United States and Europe, in particular places like Denver, Colorado which have legalized marijuana to Amsterdam in the Netherlands which has had a semi legal medical and recreational cannabis industry for much of the 20th century.

While all three branches of the Uruguayan government voted in favor of the bill to legalize marijuana many individual citizens still oppose the plan for a number of reasons. Some do not welcome the government interference in a largely unregulated and untaxed market. Others have more traditional anti-drug views and worry that legalizing marijuana could lead to social ills and problems.

On The Web:

Uruguay First Country to Legalize Marijuana Industry
http://world.time.com/2013/12/10/uruguay-poised-to-be-first-country-to-legalize-marijuana-industry/