Marijuana legalization in Uruguay

 AFTER more than a year’s public deliberation and a 14-hour parliamentary debate, on July 31st Uruguay took a big step and became the first country in the world to legalize marijuana. The lower house of Congress voted, by 50 to 46, to approve a bill from the left-wing ruling party to legalize and regulate the production and sale of the drug. This is now expected to be approved by the Senate. If so, Uruguayans will be able to consume marijuana by growing up to six plants at home, by joining a club or by buying up to 40 grams a month from licensed pharmacies.


The bill has faced fierce opposition: a poll last month found 63% against, and opponents claim that consumption will rise. But its supporters argue that drug prohibition has caused more problems—in the form of organized crime and the risks of clandestine consumption—than the drugs themselves.

Uruguay’s vote follows the approval of marijuana legalization in referendums in Colorado and Washington state in the United States last year.

In June foreign ministers of the 34 countries of the Organization of American States agreed “to encourage the consideration of new approaches” to the drug problem. Reformers hail these steps as breaking a taboo: in place of the universal prohibition imposed by the UN drugs conventions, the Americas are moving towards experiments with alternative policies. That, they hope, will encourage drug policy based on evidence, rather than dogma.

 

 What questions would you ask to get the following answers?




1. more than a year
2. July 31st
3. legalize and regulate the production and sale of the drug.
4. Yes, the Senate will.
5. by growing up to six plants at home, by joining a club or by buying up to 40 grams  a month from licensed pharmacies.
6. six plants
7. 40 grams
8. last month
9. that drug prohibition has caused more problems than the drugs themselves.
10. to encourage the consideration of new approaches
11. drug policy based on evidence.
12. perhaps

From The Economist