Pubdate: Wed, 11 Dec 2013
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/198

MARIJUANA MARKET NATIONALIZED

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) - Uruguay's Senate gave final congressional 
approval Tuesday to create the world's first national marketplace for 
legal marijuana, an audacious experiment that will have the 
government oversee production, sales and consumption of a drug 
illegal almost everywhere else.

The vote was 16 to 13, with the governing Broad Front majority united 
in favor. The plan now awaits the signature of President Jose Mujica.

Two-thirds of Uruguayans oppose a government-run marijuana industry, 
according to opinion polls. But Mujica said he's convinced the global 
drug war is a failure and feels bureaucrats can do a better job of 
containing addictions and beating organized crime than police, 
soldiers and prison guards.

"Today is an historic day. Many countries of Latin America, and many 
governments, will take this law as an example," cheered Sen. 
Constanza Moreira, voting with the Broad Front majority. 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom