Uruguay plans to sell weed for $1 per gram to combat drug trafficking
Uruguay hopes selling legal marijuana at $1 per gram will put a stop to the illegal market, according to a local newspaper.
The government is attempting to create a legal marijuana industry that could start as early as the summer of 2014, the country's drug chief Julio Calzada told newspaper El Pais.
These plans passed in the lower house of Congress and President Jose Mujica expects that it will be swiftly approved in Senate. If that's the case, Uruguay will become the first country to attempt licensing and enforcing weed production, distribution and sales.
"The illegal market is very risky and of poor quality," Calzada told the Associated Press. The State "is going to offer a safe place to buy a quality product and on top of that, it's going to sell it at the same price."
It's expected that one gram will be enough for one marijuana cigarette or two to three thinner cigarettes. Sales will be restricted to locals and they'll only be allowed to buy up to 40 grams a month.
While marijuana has been legal in Uruguay for a while, you can be thrown in jail for growing, carrying, buying or selling the substance.
The debate continues over whether marijuana should be legalized. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau announced his stance on the issue during a visit to Kelowna, B.C. in July that was published on Youtube. "I’m actually not in favour of decriminalizing cannabis – I’m in favour of legalizing it. Tax and regulate. It’s one of the only ways to keep it (weed) out of the hands of our kids because the current war on drugs, the current model isn’t working," he says in the video.
Apparently, a Canadian senate committee recommended legalizing marijuana in a report produced 11 years ago, according to the CBC. The decriminalization is similar to prohibition of alcohol, according to the report, which ultimately was not effective.
But those who disagree are afraid that legalizing it will encourage drug use and it could even make harder drugs socially acceptable.
Meanwhile, the United States is testing the drug's legalization in the states of Washington and Colorado. Last year, the states legalized possession of marijuana for up to an ounce (28.35 grams) for adults over the age of 21. Voters will decide on how to set up the distribution system of state-licensed growers, processors and sellers.
Sales for the drug are expected to start in 2014, but Washington recently decided to place high taxes on marijuana and limit the state's total production to 80 tonnes. Colorado still needs to decide on its taxation rate and whether or not it'll set a production limit. Either way, marijuana sales are expected to bring in revenue for the government and early estimations put the drug's cost in Washington at $13 to $17 per gram.
As countries experiment with their marijuana laws, the rest of the world will be watching to see how the results are.
Do you think the marijuana industry should be legalized? Why or why not?
Josephine Lim, MSN Money
Posted by: slayer | Oct 23, 2021 2:38:57 AM
Ah, yeah, like for sure, man legalize marijuana.
Seriously, all kidding aside, I believe legalization is the way to go.
Instead of wasting billions to stop the illegal sale and trafficking of marijuana, the government could make billions in the growth, management and sale of said product. Government control would provide a safe product.
The only conflict I see arises from this countries attempt to stop smokers from smoking. As such, legalization would be a contradiction of this countries policy. But, legalization would make up for the loss of revenue that the government has experienced due to the decrease of tax income from cigarettes.
Then again, I don't believe that gambling, casino's, lotteries or alcohol should be legal either. In the governments wisdom of making money, we all know where this is going, eventually.
Posted by: Hugh Gillanders | Oct 23, 2021 6:48:02 AM
Yes Marijuana should be legalized taxed and the government can make money off of it Are they stupid? Bunch of idiots running this country TAX IT AND REGULATE IT MAKE MONEY YOU ASSHOLES
Posted by: Judy Cunningham | Oct 23, 2021 8:59:03 AM
Yes, marijuana should be legalized. The war on drugs was lost, before it ever started. Doing drugs is a choice. The use of marijuana does not lead to harder drugs. I was exposed to drugs my whole life and never had any interest in taking them. I was 40 when I started using marijuana medicinally, for unexplained nausea and vomiting, and other health issues of chronic pain from work related injuries. I don't smoke pot to get high I use it to maintain a normal life. I can get up and go to work, maintain my home, and live normally. I chose to use marijuana medicinally, because I have seen the destruction of life caused by medicinal pain killers. The Government, should be held accountable and charged for being drug dealers of pharmaceuticals. I would rather by my medicine (marijuana) legally. I do not like supporting the criminal element, but I have no choice but to go that way to by what I need. I am now 56 yrs. old and use marijuana daily. Put the drug dealers out of business, and put the money into education. There is a place for marijuana in medicine, and I should have the choice of what I want to put into my body.