Uruguay: Recreational cannabis sales begin on July 19

In Uruguay, recreational cannabis will be available in pharmacies on Wednesday July 19. Uruguay will thus become the first country in South America to sell recreational cannabis in pharmacies. Sales will of course be restricted to adults.

Uruguay has legalized cannabis for recreational use in December 2013, with the aim of stopping drug trafficking and guaranteeing secure access to the product. Nearly 5,000 customers are registered on the Cannabis Consumers Register. The cannabis will be distributed by the state, in one of the 16 pharmacies registered with the government to legally distribute cannabis.

The packaging in which the cannabis is placed will include a safety notice guaranteeing the safety of the product.’authenticity of cannabis manufactured in Uruguay and warnings about the effects (positive or negative) that weed can have. Cannabis will be sold at 1.30$ per gram.

Purchases will be limited to 40 grams per month, or 10 grams per week. Tourists will not be allowed to buy cannabis. They will, however, be able to turn to Cannabis Social Club which are already authorized. Self-cultivation is also legal, and Uruguayans must choose between one of these 3 distribution methods (pharmacy, self-cultivation or Cannabis Club).

Uruguay: the most progressive country in South America?

Compared with its neighboring countries, Uruguay seems to have made considerable social progress. Cannabis was legalized under José Mujica's government. The latter belonged to the Frente Amplio (Broad Party), a social-democratic political movement. In 2012, he decided to legalize cannabis. At the time, the Time magazine approves and encourages this idea, despite criticism from all over the world.

In addition to being a secular country (despite having been colonized by the great Catholic Empire of Spain), it was also the first South American country to grant women the vote, in 1927. The same applies to prostitution, followed by abortion.

In this progressive logic, Uruguay quickly realized that legalizing cannabis would be a peaceful solution that would benefit them. Legalization could also give neighboring countries good press. Although cannabis is legalized for medicinal purposes in Chile,at Mexico or in Colombia, In Uruguay, the sale of recreational cannabis in pharmacies could have a positive impact on neighboring countries.

Mehdi Bautier