A Time to Sow? Latin America Plants Seed Towards Legalized Marijuana Malay Mail Online
go to original January 31, 2015

Political analyst Laura Carlsen from Mexico City discusses the effects of the marijuana legalization movement in Mexico. (CCTV)

After Uruguay first moved to legalize marijuana in 2013, the approach has taken root in Latin America with several other countries now considering a revamp of their own drug laws.

“Someone has to start in South America,” Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said in late 2013 as he unveiled plans to make cannabis legal in his country.

Under Mujica, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalize marijuana all the way from the cannabis field to the joint, setting up a regulated market for cultivation, sales and use.

Though marijuana is not yet being sold in pharmacies, the National Drug Council, or JND, already counts 1,300 of the country’s 3.3 million inhabitants registered as self-producers. There are also six clubs of up to 45 consumers.

Uruguay’s neighbors are intrigued.

“Because Uruguay did it and has not yet suffered any massive negative consequence, either in terms of international relations, foreign policy, sanctions or domestic political repudiation, it’s become an option for other countries to consider,” John Walsh of the Washington Office on Latin America said.

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