HomeNewsBriefUruguay Begins Public Consultation Over Marijuana Legalization
BRIEF

Uruguay Begins Public Consultation Over Marijuana Legalization

DRUG POLICY / 5 APR 2013 BY MICHAEL TATONE EN

Uruguay's government has launched a public awareness campaign to sway public opinion in favor of an initiative to legalize marijuana, in what it says is an attempt to reduce drug-related violence.

The plan was first proposed last year by President Jose Mujica, and has since evolved from its original form, which called for a state monopoly on the sale and production of the plant.

The plan now allows for the creation of private cannabis cooperatives, or "membership clubs," that will be regulated by a National Institute of Cannabis.

The bill was expected to pass last year, but Mujica did not submit it to a vote after a poll revealed that 64 percent of the population opposed the proposalMujica backed off, stating that public opinion should match the initiative and that education was necessary.

Starting this week, the National Drug Council will now be presenting debates and discussions to draw awareness to the purported benefits of the initiative.

InSight Crime Analysis

The Mujica administration is in part framing the marijuana legalization debate as a way to fight the rise in drug violence. Last year was the most violent year on record for Uruguay, with 8.71 homicides per 100,000, a rise of 45 percent compared to 2011.

However, with marijuana already decriminalized, the trade does not appear to be significantly fueling the rise in violence, which is more likely linked to an expanding domestic cocaine market and the use of the country as a shipment point for transnational criminal organizations.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

BRAZIL / 15 DEC 2021

A recent study of credit card cloning around the world revealed some startling disparities in the risks customers face across…

ELITES AND CRIME / 11 OCT 2022

Homicides and drug trafficking are pushing up crime levels in Uruguay and authorities are unable to stop it.

COCAINE / 7 SEP 2022

The port of Caucedo, the Dominican Republic's main maritime entry point, is trying to fight back against a wave of…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

All Eyes on Ecuador

2 JUN 2023

Our coverage of organized crime in Ecuador continues to be a valuable resource for international and local news outlets. Internationally, Reuters cited our 2022 Homicide Round-Up,…

WORK WITH US

Open Position: Social Media and Engagement Strategist

27 MAY 2023

InSight Crime is looking for a Social Media and Engagement Strategist who will be focused on maintaining and improving InSight Crime’s reputation and interaction with its audiences through publishing activities…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception

27 MAY 2023

Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.