Regulate or prohibit? Open issues about the regulation of cannabis in Uruguay

Abstract

A Uruguayan law has recently brought the so called war on drugs to the fore by suggesting the adoption of a paradigm shift in international drug policy. Law 19.172 2013 establishes different forms to access cannabis in Uruguay. The legal framework includes innovative measures such as self-cultivation for cannabis users and direct sale from the Uruguayan Government. However, this article shows that the Uruguayan attempt to regulate cannabis consumption leaves some important issues unaddressed.