Uruguay Poised to Become First Country to Legalize Marijuana

Vote on marijuana legalization could come as early as today

Uruguay Poised to Become First Country to Legalize Marijuana
By Drug Policy Alliance | DPA

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – This summer – perhaps as soon as today – the Uruguayan House of Representatives will vote on a bill to legalize marijuana. If approved by both the House and Senate, Uruguay will become the first country in the world to legally regulate the production, distribution and sale of marijuana for adult consumers.

The marijuana legalization proposal was put forward by President José Mujica of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) last June as part of a comprehensive package aimed at fighting crime and public insecurity.
After a year of studying the issue, engaging in political debate, redrafting the bill, and the emergence of a public campaign in favor of the proposal,

Uruguay’s parliament is set to vote on the measure this summer.
In the year since Mujica’s announced his proposal, support for the initiative has risen among diverse sectors of Uruguayan society. A national TV ad campaign, featuring a mother, a doctor, and a lawyer explaining the measure’s benefits on public safety and health – has reached hundreds of thousands of Uruguayans.

Regulación Responsable (“Responsible Regulation”), the coalition of prominent Uruguayan organizations and individuals that support the initiative, has held events around the country, sparking debate at all levels.

LGBT, women’s rights, health, student, environmental and human rights organizations have all united to support Regulación Responsable, alongside trade unions, doctors, musicians, lawyers, athletes, writers, actors and academics. “This is a truly diverse movement comprised of people who believe that marijuana reform will benefit all of Uruguayan society,” said Hannah Hetzer, who is based out of Montevideo, Uruguay, as the Policy Manager of the Americas for the Drug Policy Alliance. full story thedailychronic



Marijuana legalization moves ahead in Uruguay
By PABLO FERNANDEZ Associated Press August 1, 2013
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguay’s unprecedented plan to create a legal marijuana market won its critical first step Wednesday in the lower house of Congress.

All 50 members of the ruling Broad Front coalition approved the proposal just before midnight Wednesday in a party line vote, keeping a narrow majority of the 96 lawmakers present after more than 13 hours of passionate debate.

The measure now goes to the Senate, where passage is expected to make Uruguay the first country in the world to license and enforce rules for the production, distribution and sale of marijuana for adult consumers. full story gazettenet


A man smokes marijuana outside the Congress where lawmakers debate a bill to legalize marijuana and regulate production and distribution in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, July 31, 2013. Uruguay's unprecedented proposal to fight organized crime by creating a legal, government-licensed marijuana market was fiercely debated by lawmakers Wednesday, as the governing coalition counted every vote in hopes of winning passage in the lower house of Congress. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

☮ Erowid Center ‏@erowid
Uruguay's unprecedented plan to create legal #marijuana market won critical first step Wednesday in lower house http://ow.ly/nwtbc
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☮ TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
Lawmakers in Uruguay Vote to Legalize Marijuana: NYTimes http://dlvr.it/3kv5g4

☮ TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
HISTORY IS MADE! The Uruguayan parliament becomes to first ever to pass a vote for cannabis legalisation/regulation http://t.co/t7mJSl8403

Uruguay ecp

Some of 7.31.13 twits…

☮ Zara Snapp ‏@zarasnapp
We can take a deep breath now. Many congress people will speak today, but Perez was the deciding vote. Felicidades #Uruguay @RResponsableUY
☮ Zara Snapp ‏@zarasnapp
Dario Perez is the congressman who’s vote is needed to pass the #marijuana legislation through Uruguyan Congress and on the the Senate.
☮ TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
Great news from Dario Perez in Uruguay congress. Regulation Bill now looking set to pass by majority
☮ TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
certainly sounds like Dario Perez has been won over on the cannabis regulation bill. crucial – as his dissenting vote would derail it
☮ Pan-American Post ‏@PanAmericanPost 7h
Although Dario Perez recognizes that “public opinion isn’t ideal,” he will give his vote. #RegulacionMarihuana WILL go forward in #Uruguay
☮ Pan-American Post ‏@PanAmericanPost
Dario Perez says he wouldn’t approve the president’s first proposal, but applauds the FA lawmakers who have changed it, esp Bango and Sabini
☮ Pan-American Post ‏@PanAmericanPost
Dario Perez, again stresses: “The important thing is that the problem will continue with or without the law.”
☮ Pan-American Post ‏@PanAmericanPost
Dario Perez: “This bill seeks nothing more or less than a paradigm shift in the treatment of the problem.”
☮ Pan-American Post ‏@PanAmericanPost
Dario Perez: “The real center of debate has been that if this bill passes, the 7 plagues of Egypt will pass through this country”
☮ TransformDrugPolicy ‏@TransformDrugs
RT @PanAmericanPost: Dario Perez,who has the fate of the marijuana bill in his hands, has taken the floor.
☮ Erowid Center ‏@erowid
http://ow.ly/nw2r6
Uruguay Poised to Become First Country to Legalize Marijuana
☮ Ethan Nadelmann ‏@ethannadelmann
http://shar.es/kNWwK
Uruguay Takes Historic Step Toward Becoming First Country to Legally Regulate
☮ Marijuana | Drug Policy Alliance
Uruguay’s House of Representatives just passed a bill to legalize marijuana! Kudos to @RResponsableUY for getting us here. Onto the Senate!
☮ Drug Policy Alliance ‏@DrugPolicyNews http://bit.ly/1cqleNM
“Uruguay Takes Historic Step Toward Becoming First Country to Legally Regulate Marijuana” #NoMoreDrugWar
If it passes in the Senate, Uruguay will be the first country in the world to legally regulate production, distribution & sale of marijuana.
☮ Uruguay’s House of Representatives just passed a bill to legalize marijuana! Kudos to @RResponsableUY for getting us here. Onto the Senate!

 

We are talkin on a federal level here?

 

No we're talking about Uruguay.