Uruguay passes marijuana bill

House of representative majority members has passed a bill legalizing the use of marijuana. The controversial bill was first presented last year by Defence Minister Eleuterio Fernandez Huidobro. It was passed by 50 lower house members out of the 96 MPs following a heated 13 hour long debate. The bill was also backed by the president and his government. Mr. Jose Mujica the president says “the measure will remove profits from drug dealers and also divert users from using harder drugs”. 

Other supporters of the measure argue that the fight against drug trafficking had become futile and the country had to devise alternative. Most of the backers belong to the ruling centre-left Frente Amplio coalition which dominates the parliament.

Uruguay is set to become the first country to legalize, control the production and distribution and sale of marijuana. If approved only the government would have the mandate to sell marijuana.

Under the arrangement, buyers above 18 will have to be registered in a database and would be limited to buy from licensed pharmacies up to 40 g each month and to grow a maximum of six plants at home. The measure excludes foreigners.

The bill was passed amid criticism from foreign powers and clerics. Recently the pope on his visit to Brazil appealed to Uruguay not to legalize what he called trading death.