Uruguay’s marijuana law turns pharmacists into dealers
Uruguay’s law has been rolled out in phases
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
The rules are a bit of a buzzkill. Drug users must register with the government. Machines will scan buyers’ fingerprints at every purchase, and there are quotas to prevent overindulgence. But when Uruguay’s marijuana legalization law takes full effect today, getting high will take a simple visit to the pharmacy. As American states legalize marijuana and governments in the hemisphere rethink the fight against drugs, Uruguay is taking a significant step further: It is the first nation in the world to fully legalize the production and sale of marijuana for recreational use. (See also: Uruguay pharmacies start selling cannabis straight to consumers)