Promoted by the former president Jose Mujica, The measure was presented as a alternative to the “war on drugs”. Until now represented for the national economy more than US$20 million, that were previously in the hands of drug traffickers.
It also allowed the birth of an incipient marijuana export industry that grows year after year.
Marijuana Legislation in Uruguay
This decision implemented three mechanisms to acquire marijuana:
- self-cultivation
- the cannabis clubs
- The purchase in pharmacies
All of them under state regulation and restricted those residing in the country, although Parliament is considering opening the market to tourists.
“Cannabis regulation has been more effective than repression in terms of hitting drug trafficking. (Legalization) has had an impact of 20 million dollars on the economy that previously went to the illicit market,” explains Mercedes Ponce de León, director of the Cannabis Business Hub and the ExpoCannabis Uruguay.
The black market continues to be the main way to buy cannabis due to the ease of management, the variety of the product and the anonymity.
For this reason, the government proposes to sell cannabis with more “stick” in pharmacies at the end of the year to attract a greater number of recreational consumers to the formal market.
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Cannabis black market in Uruguay
Today, only 27% of people who acquire this drug do so legallyaccording to a study published by the IRCCA that collects annual data for 2021.
This figure corresponds to people registered in one of the three options of the regulated market, be it buying in pharmacies, membership in a cannabis club or self-cultivation.
The percentage rises to 39% if we take into account that buyers share or give the product to friends and acquaintances.
One of the reasons that most influences low legal consumption is the low THC content of cannabis flowers sold in pharmacies.
“There are some users who claim a higher percentage of THC or more variety and that conspires against the effectiveness of the system because it determines that some users who could buy in pharmacies go to other options on the regulated market or to the black market,” says Daniel Radío, Secretary General of the National Drug Board.
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Factors of illegality
The lack of stock is another factor to take into account. Registered users must reserve time to buy cannabis flowers in pharmacies, since supply does not meet demand.
Also authorized pharmacies are few in relation to the total population and difficulties persist in accessing Finance system due to international laws.
The data problem also affects consumers. To access the three ways of legal purchase you have to register, a measure that some prefer to avoid although this information is used only for the study of consumption.
In the case of clubs, there is a limited number of members (between 15 and 45), and there is even a waiting list to join.
Source: Ambito
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