Legalised selling of marijuana begins in Uruguay under landmark 2013 law

Marijuana is going on sale at 16 pharmacies in Uruguay, the final step in applying a 2013 law that made the South American nation the first to legalise a pot market covering the entire chain from plants to purchase.

By: AP | Montevideo | Published:July 19, 2017 8:25 pm
Marijuana, Marijuana legalisation, Uruguay, World news, Indian Express news The packing comes with a seal of authenticity and warnings about the drug’s effects. (Representational image)

Marijuana is going on sale at 16 pharmacies in Uruguay, the final step in applying a 2013 law that made the South American nation the first to legalise a pot market covering the entire chain from plants to purchase. Authorities say nearly 5,000 people have registered as consumers allowing them to buy marijuana when sales start on Wednesday. About two-thirds live in the capital, Montevideo.

The price is set at the equivalent of USD 1.30 per gram. Ninety cents of that goes to the two businesses chosen to cultivate the marijuana. The rest is split between pharmacies and the government, which will use its share to fund prevention programmes. Users can buy up to 40 grams a month.

The packing comes with a seal of authenticity and warnings about the drug’s effects.