Uruguay becomes first country to legalise marijuana trade

A government sponsored bill that aimed to legalise the growing, selling, and smoking of marijuana was approved by 16-13 votes in the Senate.

13:44 12 December 2013

Uruguay has become the first country to legalise the growing, selling, and smoking of marijuana after the government-sponsored bill was approved by 16-13 votes in the Senate. Experts say that the decision is a radical tactic in the fight against drug trafficking.

Hours after the bill was approved, Uruguay's first lady, Senator Lucía Topolansky, said: "We begin a new experience in April. It involves a big cultural change that focuses on public health and the fight against drug trafficking.”

Under the law, Uruguayan residents will be allowed to buy a maximum of 40g marijuana each month from licensed pharmacies as long as they are over 18 years old and registered on a database that will monitor their monthly purchases.

Registered users are allowed to start buying cannabis in April. The law will also allow the Uruguayans to grow up to six marijuana plants in their homes per year.

Meanwhile, not everybody is happy about the passing of the marijuana law. Conservatives have opposed it and based on recent opinion poll, 58per cent of Uruguayans oppose legalizing marijuana.