Last Tuesday, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully decriminalize cannabis possession and legalize pharmaceutical distribution as well as home grown operations for all Uruguayan citizens. In doing so, the Uruguayan government hopes to end the drug war and minimize the former 33 million dollar marijuana black market. The marijuana bill passed through the Uruguayan house, winning the vote 16 to 13 even though, according to surveys, only 42 percent of citizens wanted the plant legalized. Hannah Hetzer, a Huntington Post corespondent stated that the Paraguayan government has legalized the plant regardless to the public statistic to minimize the drug cartel which is much more problematic in South America. Hetzer states that "If they (Uruguay) do it right, other countries will follow their lead and we'll see a post-marijuana prohibition world." in hopes that Uruguay's record setting one dollar a gram marijuana will help more hesitant countries in south america to legalize cannabis and end the drug war and spread the benefits of cannabis.
I am personally thrilled to see a country realize that cannabis will continue to be sold illegally no matter what until the plant is legalized. Sadly, the drug cartels in Mexico, Pakistan and even in Canada are unimaginably strong. Cannabis is sold legally and illegally in every state in the U.S. and with cannabis being a top selling, high demand, bulk drug, the cartels grow and grow. Uruguay took the step towards putting the matter into their own hands. Today, Uruguay's citizens can purchase professionally handled and grown cannabis from a safe market in a safe pharmacy while contributing to an economy that has existed for hundreds of years and will not vanish any time soon. Like Hannah Hetzer said in the article bellow, "Its your move now world. just saying:"
To read more, see: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/uruguay-marijuana-legalization_n_4433971.html
I agree with you, if only people would realize that they're doing more harm than good by keeping cannabis illegal.
ReplyDeleteLuckily in the US, we don't have as many issues with drug "wars" as other countries do. The Uruguayan government is basically eliminating the black market by saying "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". I really hope that their plan is successful, and helps decrease the impact of cannabis on the black market. -Nana Johnson p2
ReplyDeleteI agree with Haley. People are going to be buying it anyway, so why not make sure that it is clean and safe and make some money off of it, too?
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