Cannabis in Uruguay

[7][8] In June 2012, the Uruguayan government, under President José Mujica, announced plans to legalise sales of cannabis in order to fight drug-related crimes and health issues.

[12][13] Mujica's plan would allow users to cultivate the plant for non-commercial uses and grant licenses to professional farmers for larger scale production.

The plan includes a system of user registry, taxation, and quality control; all coordinated through the existing agency that monitors tobacco, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals.

[16] On 31 July 2013, the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill to legalize and regulate the production and sale of cannabis and sent it to the country's Senate.

[22] Julio Calzada, Secretary-General of Uruguay's National Drug Council, explained in a December 2013 interview that the government will be responsible for regulating the production side of the process: "Companies can get a license to cultivate if they meet all the criteria.

At that point, cultivation for personal use and in cannabis social clubs had already begun, but commercial sale had not, and would ultimately be delayed until late 2017.

Vázquez, a former oncologist, promised a "strict and close evaluation" of legal cannabis, and declared "first of all, you shouldn’t consume drugs.

Registered consumers must be Uruguayan, 18 or older, and are limited to 40 grams per month, with their identity and registration confirmed at the point of sale with a fingerprint scanner.