The number of registered cannabis users in Uruguay is increasing

Uruguay is still a pioneer in the region’s cannabis market, as data showed that years after the legalization of the entire cannabis chain the number of registered users has surpassed the 50,000 mark. Nevertheless, even if the plant has proven to have many medical properties, there are countries around the world that are against the legalization of cannabis, like Russia and China.

In Uruguay, there are currently 7,871 people who grow cannabis at home and it is the first and only country in the world that legalized the entire chain: production, sale, and consumption of cannabis.

After the Uruguayan government made amendments to the law that legalized the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis, more than 50,000 users are authorized to access cannabis through legal channels.

However, despite a reduction in the illegal market, such as arrests for crimes related to the drug law, problems continue in the distribution in pharmacies.

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Data showed how the number of cannabis users keeps growing

The National Drug Board and the Uruguayan Observatory made a report in which they explained that until the end of 2019:

• 50,659 users were authorized to access cannabis through the legal channels of which:
• 7,871 were home growers.
• 4,187 were part of clubs.
• 38,601 registered as purchasers in pharmacy.

These people only represent 21 percent of the people who in 2018 declared that they used cannabis, according to the National Survey on Drug Use.

However, this study considers that the number of consumers is greater, but they are not registered in any legal way.

Prohibitionism is losing against Uruguay’s cannabis laws

Another report carried out in 2018, registered that pressed cannabis, which came mainly from other countries, decreased five times, going from 58 percent to 11 percent, during the last four years.

Days ago, the brand new president of the National Drug Board, Daniel Radío, gave an interview in which he explained how the small country is defeating prohibitionism.

“There are many people who do not agree with the law, but I do not know if there are sectors, there is even a group of people who are gathering signatures to remove me, they have 44 signatures.”

“Actually the law is firm, I did not vote for it and it had critical points that I still maintain. It represents an interesting step on the way to change the prohibitionist paradigm,” he said.

Asked about the increase in consumption, he replied that “the number of cannabis users was increasing in Uruguay, and the approval of the law did not impact on the ‘pending’.”

“Nor did it decrease in case someone intended that effect. The number of consumers not only did not decrease but continued as it was,” he added.

“The slowing down of minors was offset by the increase in consumers of legal age, a consequence if you want ‘rare’ is that the age of initiation of consumption increased, I do not think it is because people began to consume later rather, a greater number of adult consumers were incorporated. That makes the start of consumption increase,” Radio said.

Cannabis success doesn’t mean the same can be repeated with other substances

Radío is not one of those who think that the experience with cannabis can be repeated with other substances.

“Personally, I am in favor of gradual processes, and these processes require a level of social maturation that nothing indicates that our society is ready to take that step.”

“In the world, there are many countries opposed to changing this paradigm. For example, China, Russia, the Arab countries, and there are other countries like Canada for example, that cannabis for adult use (recreational) is accessible for consumption, without the need for registration.”

“When we began to discuss this rule in Uruguay, there were already two states in the US that had similar legislation approved. I mean Colorado and Washington.”

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(Featured image by AV_Photographer via Pixabay)

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