Uruguay legalizes marijuana

Uruguay has become the first nation in the World to legalize the cycle of cultivation, nurturing, sale and consumption of marijuana.

The vote in Uruguay's Senate was a close 16-13 in favour. This doesn't reflect a recent opinion poll which showed almost 60 per cent of ordinary Uruguayans oppose it. The country's President Jose Mujica argues that this will formalize a sphere which is currently being controlled by criminals.

The Bill which becomes law in four months, allows nationals over the age of 18, to purchase up to 40 grams of marijuana for personal consumption per month from registered outlets. It will be permiitted to grow up to six marijuana plants per year at home, with a maximum yield of 480 grams. Pricing will be officially set and controlled.

The effect of undercutting established organized crime, has yet to be gauged.

This is causing a major headache for Washington, because other Latino countries could also follow suit, and undermine the core of US anti-narcotics policy.

Listen to James Blears’ report: