MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY — The use of marijuana was already legal in Uruguay. Now, it is the first country in the world to legalize the cultivation and sale of the drug.
There has been growing evidence and consensus on the health benefits of cannabis. There are currently 20 US states (and Washington DC) that have legalized the use of medical marijuana. “Cannabis has been used to reduce nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy and people with AIDS, and to treat pain and muscle spasticity.” Recent research has also pointed to a reduction in risk of cancer, as well as, possible cures.
“Our country can’t wait for international consensus on this issue,” said Uruguay Senator Roberto Conde. Rich countries debating legalization of pot are also watching the bill, which philanthropist George Soros has supported as an “experiment” that could provide an alternative to the failed U.S.-led policies of the long war on drugs,” reported Reuters.
South America: Uruguay
