Pubdate: Thu, 15 Nov 2012
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 2012 Associated Press
Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ
Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491

BILL WOULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA CULTIVATION

(AP) Uruguayans would be able to grow marijuana at home or in clubs 
but the state would be in charge of the trade from cultivation to 
sale under a government led legalization bill presented in the 
country's legislature Wednesday.

The use of cannabis and other drugs is already legal in Uruguay, one 
of Latin America's safest countries and a trailblazer on liberal 
lawmaking, but the sale and cultivation of drugs is not.

President Jose Mujica, a former leftist guerrilla fighter, says the 
proposed law would help undermine smuggling gangs and fight petty 
crime in a region hit by drugs-related violence. Critics say it risks 
luring more Uruguayans to harder drugs.

The bill, which the government hopes will become law early next year, 
says the state would be responsible for managing and regulating the 
marijuana trade from cultivation to distribution.

Mujica's allies control both houses of the legislature so the bill is 
expected to pass despite resistance from opposition lawmakers. It 
would give Uruguay some of the world's most permissive legislation on drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom