Uruguay takes ‘war on drugs’ in new direction: state monopoly over the production and distribution o
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[QUOTE]Uruguay has long been at the vanguard of social reform in Latin America. Today, it is on the verge of passing into law one of its most radical ideas yet.
The Broad Front – the center-left coalition that holds power – is proposing a state monopoly over the production and distribution of marijuana, making Uruguay the first national government to sell cannabis directly to citizens. The government says the measure is necessary to combat rising drug-related crime, decrease health risks for users, and counter ineffective US policies on drugs. But within Uruguay, interest groups have labeled the legislation totalitarian, while some international bodies argue it breaches global conventions.
“We’re putting this forward as international policy,” says Sebastian Sabini, president of the parliamentary commission created to debate the bill. “The war on drugs has failed. There are more consumers and more violence.”
“Uruguay is opening up a new path,” he says.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]The government introduced the bill in part because of “the failure of the global ‘war on drugs,’ ” according to the text of the proposed law. It also believes that by separating the marijuana and hard drug markets, less people will become addicted to the latter – especially "paco," a cocaine-based paste.
Violence linked to the black market for drugs will plummet too, says Julio Calzada, secretary general of Uruguay’s National Committee on Drugs. “Uruguay’s criminality rate has increased by approximately 10 percent in the last few years,” Mr. Calzada says. “We can tackle that by regulating the $40 million marijuana market.”
But legalization campaigners insist the plans would place too much control in the hands of government while the UN is irked by the “grave violation” of its drug interdiction strategy.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Mr. Sabini, the president of the parliamentary commission, says that if the state controls cultivation, smokers will be assured of a safe product.
A monthly limit of 40 grams per person will also be imposed, Mr. Calzada says. Foreigners will not be allowed to purchase the cannabis, as has been the case in popular party destinations like Amsterdam, Holland.
“The bill is there to resolve Uruguay’s problems,” said Mujica. “We don’t want drug tourism.”
However, in what may come as a surprise, the proposed legislation has not won over marijuana legalization activists, who label it totalitarian.
Juan Vaz, a leading campaigner once jailed for growing cannabis plants, is lobbying lawmakers to ensure they also allow private, domestic production. The current law would mean that individual growers keep breaking the law, and only state-run production would be legal.
“The government should regulate home cultivation rather than seek a monopoly,” says Mr. Vaz.
Mujica has said the proposal puts Uruguay “at the vanguard” once more. “The problem isn’t the marijuana in itself,” he said. “It’s the trafficking and the violence associated with the black market.”
“It’s time for a new approach,” says Mr. Calzada.[/QUOTE]
Source: [URL]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/20/uruguay-takes-war-on-drugs-in-new-direction-state-monopoly-over-the-production-and-distribution-of-marijuana/[/URL]
I'm not personally sure whether government monopolies are ever a solution to anything but it should be interesting to see how this develops and influences policy elsewhere.
I can see them violently controlling their turf :v:.
A step in the right direction.
That is unfortunate they aren't allowing foreigners to partake, they could score some huge tourism bucks that way. Plus it's just pot so they could sell it at some Sandals style resorts or something and people could just be stoned on the beach. Sounds kind of nice.
Indeed, I imagine foreigners already drink in their country and that is generally far more destructive.
Well, it's still regulation; kinda crap regulation but in the end it's still legalization and thus a step forward against the war on drugs. Honestly, making pot legal and available is a potentially lucrative cash cow that only brain-damaged Conservatives could legitimately try to object to. And if people take too much and develop health problems, since too much of anything is usually bad for you, it's just the people who're being stupid with it, not the drug itself being a poison to the soul.
It will be very interesting to see how this turns out, no doubt advocates in other countries will cite this as an example.
It's all in the game.
I'm interested to see how this will play out, hopefully for the better.
[QUOTE=Nikota;37741152]I can see them violently controlling their turf :v:.[/QUOTE]
Yes, they have a violent gang of armed thugs called the military.
South America seems like a nice place to be, mostly democratic socialism.
I remember a lot of states in the past used to have/put taxes on alcohol when they were short on cash.
[QUOTE=MrBob1337;37741574]South America seems like a nice place to be, mostly democratic socialism.[/QUOTE]
Hint: for the better part, it isn't.
[QUOTE=MrBob1337;37741574]South America seems like a nice place to be, mostly democratic socialism.[/QUOTE]
I can't seem to find any leprosy anywhere else so i don't really have a choice do i
[QUOTE=MrBob1337;37741574]South America seems like a nice place to be, mostly democratic socialism.[/QUOTE]
you really don't know what you're talking about if you're an American and think South America seems like a nice place to be
[QUOTE=latin_geek;37742288]you really don't know what you're talking about if you're an American and think South America seems like a nice place to be[/QUOTE]
Come on now, let's not be so hard on ourselves now. The place is riddled with corruption, violence, poor administration, lack of basic public services and sheer poverty, but at least the place is fun amiright?
[editline]asd[/editline]
[sp]There are hot chicks tho....[/sp]
Uruguayan here, this issue here's been the issue of the year since it was first talked about. Many people say it's to secure the president's position in the upcoming re-elections. He's an okay guy and has done some pretty wonderful things for education. (free bus passes for students and educational laptops for every kid that goes to a public school among them)
Just my 2 pesos. V:v:V
I once came up with a solution identical to this. I'm very interested in seeing how it'll work.
South America is full of 3rd world countries and the governments there could not possibly be more corrupt.
Perhaps its a great place for a vacation, but it would be ill advised to go live there coming from a 1st world country.
I'm not optimistic, but I'm interested to see how this plays out.
South America isn't as bad as Central America. Central America is just a killing field ran by racists who's debating skills is pointing out the physical imperfections of leaders of different counties.
I can't help but think of how bizarre this sounds.
Kinda reminds me of Futurama's Bender.
[QUOTE=MrBob1337;37741574]South America seems like a nice place to be, mostly democratic socialism.[/QUOTE]
And they are bloody open/friendly with homosexuality.
i love how the pro-legalization people are whining that it's not exactly what they wanted
just take this concession; it'll probably get deregulated a few years down the line anyway
Official government support over illegal drugs? Hopefully they can actually make it more worth it for the citizens to buy from them instead of from the illegal drug sellers.
do they really think a monopoly will work? what's to stop gangs from simply selling cheaper, poorer-quality drugs illegally - just as they've always done?
[QUOTE=BoysLightUp;37745658]do they really think a monopoly will work? what's to stop gangs from simply selling cheaper, poorer-quality drugs illegally - just as they've always done?[/QUOTE]
Because they won't be able to compete?
[QUOTE=zombojoe;37743975]South America is full of 3rd world countries and the governments there could not possibly be more corrupt.
Perhaps its a great place for a vacation, but it would be ill advised to go live there coming from a 1st world country.[/QUOTE]
Do you happen to live in a South American country?
[QUOTE=BoysLightUp;37745658]do they really think a monopoly will work? what's to stop gangs from simply selling cheaper, poorer-quality drugs illegally - just as they've always done?[/QUOTE]
well nothing really, but people would probably know about the poorer quality and simply buy from the government
the argument might have more sway if it were a really addictive drug, but i can't really see pot smokers needing a fix so bad that they'd buy from a gang after they use up their monthly legal ration
then when hopefully the government loosens restrictions on growth and sales it'll just end up like an ordinary market, like alcohol
[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;37745567]i love how the pro-legalization people are whining that it's not exactly what they wanted
just take this concession; it'll probably get deregulated a few years down the line anyway[/QUOTE]
I can't imagine most governments of the world would want to legalize weed without a plan to monetize it like alcohol/cigarettes.
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