Global trendsetter? Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

Marijuana legalization: Uruguay's lower house of parliament set a global first by voting to give the state control of marijuana production, distribution, and sales
The Christian Science Monitor
Thursday, August 1, 2013

0801-world-ouruguay_full_380Uruguay has effectively sealed the passage of a groundbreaking marijuana legalization bill that puts production, distribution, and sale of the drug in the hands of the state, making it the first country ever to do so. After a 13-hour debate, politicians in the lower house of parliament voted late last night in favor of the controversial initiative, which is similar to laws approved last year in Colorado and Washington State. The upper house is expected to follow suit.