Uruguay has become the first in history and worldwide to make cannabis freely available to its citizens.
This move was not just a progressive stance over individual freedoms and the therapeutic value of the weed, but a more encompassing plan to regulate and distribute cannabis, and in so doing, cutting the legs of cartels.
The fight to bring cannabis to everyone was not without its bad moments. Activists who promoted the legalization of cannabis often ended up in jail. In previous times, growing cannabis for personal consumption was vigorously prosecuted, although limited personal use was not.
The reason for controlling the distribution of the drug, is due to the drug cartels' entrenched power in the country. In fact, cannabis traffic is the largest share of drug trafficking in that country.
There are strict limits on the number of plants one can grow under the new legislation. Personal use is legal, other uses are not.
There are also set limits for those who wish to buy it legally from government distribution centers: 40 grams a month.
However, those who think of traveling to Uruguay to benefit from the novel law better beware: tourists are not covered by this legislation. The country is seeking to avoid becoming a pot mecca, so to speak.
Some skeptics believe that this legislation will not totally hamper the cartel's distribution, but the quality and safety of the product offered by the government will be greatly superior, thereby stimulating the users to use its channels. The drug will also be much cheaper, at about 1$ per gram, than the price available from the cartel's drug dealers.
Some are hailing this decision as an important step forward in the regulation and legislation of drugs, one that should be followed by many other countries.
The usual chorus of opposition was raised when the law passed: this could lead to the legalization of harder drugs, or because of the more open and widespread use of cannabis, cause incidents due to the 'altered' state of the cannabis smokers. More complaints have also been raised by doctors, who fear that the cannabis could fall into the hands of minors.
President Mujica however, sees this legislation as a test for both the country and the world. He believes that the freedom to consume cannabis is part of a wider progressive effort to silence taboos and prejudice.
The United Nations however, has already expressed its dissent. According to the UN, Uruguay is now in violation of International conventions on drug enforcement.
The war on drugs however, is broken. The continent is rife with cartels who are becoming increasingly powerful and violent in turf wars. The legislation of cannabis use is but one step in trying to take away the great powers exercised by criminal entities.
Source : Al Jazeera/ 12.20.13
No comments:
Post a Comment