Pubdate: Fri, 02 Aug 2013
Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Copyright: 2013 Tribune Newspapers
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/mVLAxQfA
Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159
Authors: Chris Kraul and Andres D'Alessandro, Tribune Newspapers

URUGUAY MOVES TOWARD MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Uruguay appears likely to become the first 
Latin American country to legalize marijuana after its lower house of 
congress approved a bill to regulate pot and sanction its consumption.

Uruguay's upper house, the Senate, still must pass the measure, but 
analysts believe the government-led majority favors the law and that 
it will be approved by October. President Jose Mujica is a strong 
proponent of the measure, which polls show is opposed by a majority 
of Uruguayans.

The 50- 46 vote in the capital, Montevideo, late Wednesday came as 
legalization or decriminalization of drugs is increasingly debated 
among Latin American leaders, who see the U. S.- led war on drugs as 
a failure. They complain that cocaine, marijuana and heroin continue 
to flow to U. S. consumers while Latin American countries pay the 
price in violence and organized crime. The presidents of Guatemala 
and Colombia have said new ways of stopping drug trafficking should 
be considered.

As passed by the Uruguayan chamber of deputies, the law somewhat 
resembles California's medical marijuana law, although the Uruguayan 
measure is aimed at recreational use. It would allow home cultivation 
of marijuana and the monthly sale of up to 1.4 ounces per month to 
users who buy it at specially licensed pharmacies. The lawmakers 
turned aside a Mujica initiative that the state monopolize the drug's 
production and distribution.

The law would also allow the formation of marijuana clubs, with 15 to 
45 members each, to grow the plants.

Mujica has touted the law as a way of fighting drug trafficking, 
which he says has brought more violence to his nation.

Casting a decisive vote was ruling coalition deputy Dario Perez, who 
said he wants to maintain solidarity with members of his party 
despite personal doubts he said are shared by a majority of 
Uruguayans. According to a poll by the firm Cifra, 63 percent of the 
population opposes marijuana legalization.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom