Uruguay to sell marijuana to take profits from dealers

Published: 20 June, 2012, 22:30
Edited: 21 June, 2012, 16:33

An activist for the legalization of marijuana, who declined to be identified, smokes marijuana in his apartment as marijuana plants are seen on the balcony, in a neighbourhood of Montevideo (Reuters/Andres Stapff)

The Latin American country is planning not only to legalize marijuana, but to actually start selling it. By dose.

­The Uruguayan government has devised a new measure to fight drug trafficking: lawmakers are to send a bill to Congress on Wednesday that would legalize marijuana sales.

Only the government would be allowed to sell special cigarettes, report local news outlets. The new indulgence would only be available to registered users, though. A limit would be set and those exceeding it would be subject to drug rehabilitation.

The new crime-fighting measure is designed to lift profits from drug dealers – and divert the public from harder drugs. MPs also expect the new measure to go hand in hand with an anti-drug campaign.

More at  rt.com