Cannabis in Uruguay: An overview

Cannabis has been a part of Uruguayan culture for centuries. The plant was first introduced to the region by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century ¹. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that cannabis became a significant part of Uruguayan society.

In the early 1900s, Uruguay began to experience an influx of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East. Many of these immigrants brought with them their own customs and traditions, including the use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes ¹. By the 1920s, cannabis use had become widespread in Uruguay, and the government began to take notice.

In 1923, Uruguay became one of the first countries in the world to criminalize cannabis use ¹. The law was aimed at curbing drug use and addiction, but it had little effect on cannabis consumption in the country. In fact, by the 1960s, Uruguay had become one of the largest consumers of cannabis in South America ¹.

In 1974, Uruguay decriminalized personal possession of drugs, including cannabis ². The law allowed judges to determine whether a given case of possession was personal or commercial. This law was later updated in 1998 ¹.

In June 2012, President José Mujica announced plans to legalize sales of cannabis in order to fight drug-related crimes and health issues ². The government stated that they would ask global leaders to do the same. Nobel prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa praised the decision as “courageous” ².

In December 2013, President Mujica signed legislation to legalize recreational cannabis, making Uruguay the first country in the modern era to do so ³⁴². The law allowed for the formation of Cannabis Social Clubs, a state-controlled marijuana dispensary regime, and the creation of a Cannabis regulatory institute (Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis or IRCCA) ¹. In August 2014, Uruguay legalized growing up to six plants at home ¹.

The legal sale of cannabis began on July 19, 2017, more than three-and-a-half years after Uruguay’s marijuana law had been passed ³. However, there were some hiccups along the way. For instance, banks that partnered with pharmacies selling marijuana were threatened by US banks that learned their Uruguayan counterparts were accepting marijuana money ³. As a result, some pharmacies had to stop selling cannabis ³.

Uruguay’s decision to legalize cannabis was aimed at fighting drug-related crimes and health issues. It has been praised by many as a bold move that could set an example for other countries around the world ².