Uruguay has launched a worldwide unique cannabis legalization project. In the South American country, grass is now sold freely in pharmacies - even without a prescription. The specially bred cannabis blooms does not come from the black market, but is cultivated by state-commissioned enterprises. The left-wing government of Uruguay wants to push the black market and regulate drug use.
Man with joint by Freepik
"It is a model of the strictly regulated levy, in the price, quantity and quality of the drug are in state hands," said the initiator of the law, Julio Calzada.
All potheads must register with the state and identify with an electronic fingerprint. Only Uruguayans and people who have lived in the country for at least one year can buy grass in the pharmacy. Tourists do not. Uruguay does not want to be a holiday destination for potheads, said Calzada.
They can then buy up to 0.35 oz of flowers per week. In Uruguay, cannabis is smoked and no tobacco is added. Therefore, experts assume that ten grams are enough for around ten joints, even if the exact dosage depends on the taste of the individual. According to the state's cannabis institute, nearly 5,000 citizens have registered for the purchase. About 70 percent are men, most of them between the ages of 30 and 44. 0.35 oz of marijuana in the pharmacy costs just 13 dollars and is thus cheaper than the dealer.
