Uruguay Becomes World’s First Nation to Legalize Marijuana
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Uruguay, a nation of 3.3 million tucked between Argentina and Brazil, became the world’s first nation to legalize the cultivation, sale and use of marijuana in a move aimed at curbing the cost of combating drug trafficking.
Lawmakers approved the bill by a count of 16-13 after a 12-hour debate in the Senate late yesterday. The law will create a state-regulated market with prices set by the government and allow pharmacies to sell as much as 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of marijuana a month to registered users who must be over 18 years old and residents of Uruguay.