There have been so many places where the use of marijuana is considered legal. And starting next year, the people of Uruguay will be able to do the same. As bonus, they can choose from three different varieties of state-sanctioned cannabis. The National Drug Board issued a statement on Saturday saying that starting next year; marijuana will be sold in pharmacies the small South American country.
According to the board's president, Milton Romani, the different variety of marijuana will have different levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is a compound that alters the mind and Cannabidiol (CBD) which is believed to calm the effect of THC.
He also told Reuters that people can choose from three different varieties with explanation about the effects of each which starts with the lowest level. However, Romani declined to state what the names of the three varieties are.
In 2013, Uruguay became the very first country to consider the cultivation and distribution of marijuana legal. This is aimed to control the trade of the substance from gangs while regulating and taxing its consumption. Uruguayan authorities have developed detectable and genetically-distinct plants to make sure that they do not leave Uruguay's borders or end up in the black market.
The government calculated that the registered marijuana will be available in the market in the middle of 2016, as soon as the two licensed producers start selling their first commercial product totaling to about four tons. Marijuana will be made available at about $1 per gram, and locals are allowed to purchase up to 40 grams every month. Uruguay's marijuana law has drawn attention from countries all over the world when lawmakers were arguing whether strict anti-drug laws are effective.
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said that he will open a national discussion to review the marijuana law following the court ruling. The country has approved marijuana-growing licenses to two companies and has registered about 3,200 people who are allowed to grow up to six plants for personal use.
