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Tag: Uruguay

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Uruguay Updates Legal Cannabis Prices

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Uruguay became the first country in history to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure in 2013. Multiple nations have since adopted national recreational cannabis legalization measures, but Uruguay will always hold the title of being the first to do so.

Sales of legal adult-use cannabis flower launched in Uruguay’s pharmacies in 2017, and part of Uruguay’s model is having pre-set prices for all recreational cannabis products sold in pharmacies. Periodically, regulators in Uruguay update those prices, which happened recently in the South American country.

When pharmacy sales began in 2017, Uruguay’s market initially offered two flower strains for consumers to choose from. The first is a strain named ‘Alfa, ‘ and the second strain is named ‘Beta,’ each with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels equal to or less than 9%, and cannabidiol (CBD) levels equal to or less than 3%.

Then, in 2022, Uruguay permitted a third option, ‘Gamma,’ which has a THC level of equal to or less than 15%, and CBD levels of equal to or less than 1%. A fourth strain named ‘Épsilon’ was introduced to Uruguay’s legal market in October 2024. Épsilon has a THC level of equal to or less than 20%, and CBD levels of equal to or less than 1%.

“The Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA) announced the new prices for adult-use cannabis dispensed in pharmacies.” reported Montevideo in its local reporting (translated from Spanish to English). “Along these lines, the agency ordered a $10 increase as part of the semiannual update corresponding to August of the new product prices.”

The updated pricing for each strain is below, in Uruguayan pesos:

Since Uruguay adopted its legalization model, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, South Africa, and the Czech Republic have also adopted national legalization measures. However, out of the countries that have legalized cannabis for adult use, only Uruguay currently has a set-price model for legal products.

The theory behind Uruguay’s approach to cannabis pricing is that by offering cannabis through the nation’s pharmacies and keeping prices reasonable, it combats the unregulated market. Legal cannabis purchases in Uruguay are limited to residents only. Over 75,000 consumers have registered to make legal purchases through the nation’s pharmacies.

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Study: Cannabis Legalization Not Associated With Increased Adolescent Use

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Modern cannabis prohibition policies were enacted starting in the early 1900s, and since that time, cannabis advocates around the world have worked very hard to reform laws that prohibit cannabis activity, including cannabis commerce.

Leading up to cannabis reform votes and implementation, cannabis opponents often make predictions that such reforms will result in increased cannabis use by adolescents. A team of international researchers based in Australia and the Czech Republic recently conducted a study focusing on the topic of cannabis reform and adolescent usage rates.

The study’s findings were published in the academic publication International Journal of Drug Policy.

“Several jurisdictions have pursued reforms that regulate cannabis production and/or sale for adult (non-medical) use. Looking at outcomes of such reforms across multiple jurisdictions may help to identify outcomes that are inherent to non-criminal cannabis supply, as well as provide insight into the outcomes of specific regulation models.” the researchers wrote about their study.

“We identified nine indicators of cannabis policy outcomes and aggregated them into three domains (social outcomes, outcomes in cannabis use, health-related outcomes). We assessed these outcomes across five jurisdictions with different models of regulating cannabis supply (Netherlands, Spain, U.S. states that legalized cannabis, Uruguay, and Canada).” the researchers wrote about their methodology.

“We used a three-level systematic literature review, prioritising studies with quasi-experimental design (i.e. comparative and longitudinal). We categorised the studies according to their design and the type of outcome (increase, decrease, or no outcome).” they also wrote.

Currently, recreational cannabis sales are limited to adult residents in Uruguay. Canada permits recreational cannabis sales to anyone of legal age. The Netherlands limits legal sales to participants of regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials, fewer than half of the states in the U.S. permit adult-use sales, and sales in Spain operate in a ‘legal grey area.’

“Across long-standing as well as recent cannabis supply regimes, and across different models of cannabis supply, our review identified common outcomes: a decrease in cannabis-related arrests, an increase in adult (but not adolescent) cannabis use, and increase in healthcare utilization (not traffic-related).” the researchers found.

“Regulating cannabis supply may be associated with benefits in the social area and with potential harms regarding public health; there may though be trade-offs depending on the choice of a cannabis regulation model. Jurisdictions may attempt to mix and match the present models of cannabis regulation to achieve the best ratio of benefits and harms.” the study’s authors concluded.

Cannabis is also legal for adult use at a national level in Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa. However, of those countries, only Malta and Germany currently provide legal channels for acquiring recreational cannabis beyond home cultivation. Both Malta and Germany are home to legal member-based cultivation associations. Adult-use cannabis legalization is also expected to be implemented soon in the Czech Republic.

Switzerland is another jurisdiction where regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating. The largest regional adult-use cannabis pilot trial in Switzerland is operating in Zurich, where a total of 4,400 people between the ages of 18 and 80 are participating.

“Over 90 percent of participants now obtain their cannabis products from legal sources, i.e. from one of the three specialist stores or one of the nine pharmacies taking part.” Blue News reported about Zurich’s pilot trial.

Another jurisdiction in Switzerland participating in regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials is Basel. The results of a previous study, which was the first academic reporting of its kind, were published on the University of Basel’s website in addition to being published in the academic journal Addiction.

“Public health-oriented recreational cannabis access may decrease cannabis use and cannabis-related harms, especially among those using other drugs.” the researchers of that study concluded.

“Furthermore, the study was able to dispel fears that legalization could exacerbate the psychopathological symptoms associated with cannabis consumption in addition to consumption itself: after the first six months, there was no difference between the two study groups in terms of depression, anxiety or other symptoms.” stated the University of Basel on its website.

“The interim assessment after two years of study shows a significant improvement in the mental state of the approximately 300 or so participants who are still taking part.” the University also wrote.

Earlier this year, Marijuana Moment reported that a government-commissioned report found that  Switzerland’s adult-use cannabis legalization pilot program is “running smoothly,” with “no indication of any disturbances to public order.”

“About two years after the pilot program launched in seven municipalities across the country, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) study—carried out by the University of Lausanne and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland—generally determined that the initiative has been a success.” the outlet also reported.

Previously published government data from the United States found that in jurisdictions where adult-use cannabis legalization was adopted, consumption rates among minors had reduced post-legalization compared to pre-legalization. The results of a Canadian study that was published earlier this year found that while reported overall cannabis use in Canadian society increased post-legalization, “misuse decreased.”

Cannabis flower bud prerolls joints

Did Cannabis Usage Rates Spike In Uruguay And Canada Post-Legalization?

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

A common prediction made by cannabis opponents when cannabis policy modernization proposals are being considered is that cannabis consumption rates, particularly cannabis misuse rates, will dramatically increase. Cannabis opponents have made that claim for decades, often going unchallenged.

This scenario is no longer hypothetical, with multiple countries having adopted adult-use cannabis legalization measures. Consumption data generated from those jurisdictions can be examined and analyzed, providing insight into what actually happens when countries adopt modernized recreational cannabis policies.

Uruguay was the first country to ever adopt a national adult-use legalization measure involving cannabis that contains high THC levels. Low-THC production and use (industrial hemp) were permitted in various jurisdictions before Uruguay legalized recreational cannabis in 2013. However, Uruguay was the first nation to legalize high-THC production, possession, and use by adults for recreational purposes.

Over a decade after Uruguay implemented legalization, below is what we know about consumption rates in the South American country via an insightful article by reporter Javier Hasse for Forbes. The data is derived from a presentation by Mercedes Ponce de León, director of Expo Cannabis Uruguay, at the C-Days 2025 conference in Barcelona.:

  • ‘Problematic use’ has remained steady at 2.1% since 2011
  • Overall consumption rates fell from 14.6% in 2018 to 12.3% in 2024
  • The average age of initial cannabis use rose from 18 to 20 years

Uruguay’s legalization model involves permitting adults to legally access regulated recreational cannabis through one of three channels. The first is through the nation’s pharmacies, 40 of which sell adult-use cannabis products containing very specific ratios of THC and CBD. A reported 75,498 consumers are registered to make recreational cannabis purchases from Uruguay’s pharmacies.

The second is through the nation’s licensed member-based cultivation associations, of which there are currently 460 that are active. A reported 15,162 consumers are members of a licensed cultivation association. Lastly, adult consumers can cultivate their own cannabis in their private residences, up to six plants. A reported 11,465 consumers have registered to cultivate cannabis at home.

Canada’s legalization model permits a more robust commerce system, including permitting recreational cannabis sales to non-residents. Uruguay limits recreational cannabis sales to residents of the South American nation only. Canada first implemented its legalization model in 2018.

A team of academic and health researchers based in Canada recently examined reported cannabis consumption data, intending to determine whether cannabis use or misuse changed “among adults in the 5 years following recreational cannabis legalization in Canada.” The researchers’ findings were published in the academic journal Substance Use and Addiction.

“This prospective cohort study included data from community-dwelling adults who participated in up to 11 biannual assessments from September 2018 to October 2023 in Ontario, Canada. Data were analyzed from November 2023 to January 2024.” the researchers stated about their methodology.

“In this prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults in Canada, cannabis use frequency increased modestly in the 5 years following legalization, while cannabis misuse decreased modestly.” the researchers concluded. “These changes were substantially moderated by prelegalization cannabis use, with more frequent consumers of cannabis before legalization exhibiting the largest decreases in both outcomes.”

Data from both Uruguay and Canada demonstrate that national adult-use cannabis legalization does not automatically result in a massive spike in consumption rates, problematic or otherwise, debunking claims made by cannabis opponents. The same is true for localized adult-use cannabis commerce reform, as demonstrated by the results of research conducted in Switzerland, where regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are operating.

An interdisciplinary research team affiliated with the Addiction Department of the Department of Health of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the University of Basel, the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel (UPK), and Psychiatric Services Aargau recently published results from a study that relied on data from the Weed Care pilot trial project in Switzerland.

The study’s findings, which are the first academic reporting of its kind, were published on the University of Basel’s website in addition to being published in the academic journal Addiction.

“We measured the effects of public health-oriented cannabis access compared with the illegal market on cannabis use and related mental health outcomes in adult cannabis users.” the researchers stated about their study. “This was a two-arm, parallel group, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Follow-up outcome measurement took place after 6 months.”

“The primary outcome was self-reported severity of cannabis misuse after 6 months, as measured by the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test – Revised (range 0–32). Secondary outcomes involved depressive, anxiety, and psychotic symptoms, cannabis consumption amount, alcohol, and drug use.” the researchers wrote regarding their investigation’s measurements.

“Public health-oriented recreational cannabis access may decrease cannabis use and cannabis-related harms, especially among those using other drugs.” the researchers concluded.

“Furthermore, the study was able to dispel fears that legalization could exacerbate the psychopathological symptoms associated with cannabis consumption in addition to consumption itself: after the first six months, there was no difference between the two study groups in terms of depression, anxiety or other symptoms.” stated the University of Basel on its website.

“The interim assessment after two years of study shows a significant improvement in the mental state of the approximately 300 or so participants who are still taking part.” the University also wrote.

Earlier this year, Marijuana Moment reported that a government-commissioned report found that  Switzerland’s adult-use cannabis legalization pilot program is “running smoothly,” with “no indication of any disturbances to public order.”

“About two years after the pilot program launched in seven municipalities across the country, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) study—carried out by the University of Lausanne and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland—generally determined that the initiative has been a success.” the outlet also reported.

Previously published government data from the United States found that in jurisdictions where adult-use cannabis legalization was adopted, consumption rates among minors had reduced post-legalization compared to pre-legalization.

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World’s First President To Legalize Recreational Cannabis Passes Away

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

National-level recreational cannabis reform has occurred in six countries so far, and hopefully, more will be on the way soon. However, one country will always hold the distinction of being the first to make the public policy change. That country is, of course, Uruguay, and its president at the time will forever be known as the first president to ever legalize recreational cannabis.

Unfortunately, that iconic figure in cannabis history, the former President of Uruguay, José “Pepe” Mujica, has passed away. Mr. Mujica died today at the age of 89.

Global cannabis prohibition spread across the world in the first half of the 1900s, and cannabis remained prohibited at the national level in every country for decades until Uruguay made history in 2013 by approving the first-ever national recreational cannabis legalization law. It was a historic milestone not only for Uruguay but also for the global cannabis movement, and President Mujica made it possible by having the courage to sign off on the measure.

Leading up to legalization in Uruguay, then President Mujica was very vocal and personally championed the issue, telling the mainstream media that cannabis was not a gateway drug when reporters tried to promote that talking point in interviews with him.

“It’s actually the opposite,” President Mujica said in August 2013, roughly 4 months before he signed the legalization measure. “People seek crack and other more dangerous poisons when they have no access to marijuana.”

These days, modernizing national policies to permit recreational cannabis commerce to boost public health outcomes and combat the unregulated market is more common. But prior to Uruguay legalizing cannabis, José Mujica was seemingly the only global leader to be making that argument.

In an interview with CNN host Andres Oppenheimer at the time, Mujica pushed back on a snarky question from the reporter who implied that 30 grams of cannabis was ‘too much’ for one person for a one-month supply.

“It’s 30 grams,” Mujica clarified. “And the advantage [of Uruguay’s legalization policy] is that we can identify who is consuming. If we identify consumers, we can help them. If we criminalize them and keep them underground, we steer them towards drug dealers and wash our hands of responsibility.”

While he was vocal in his push to modernize Uruguay’s national cannabis laws, José Mujica ultimately signed the historic measure with little fanfare. In the world of politics, making history is a golden opportunity to pander to anyone who will listen. Any other leader would have made it all about themselves.

But that wasn’t Mujica’s style. Instead, he quietly signed the measure into law and largely let the world find out about it from other sources and lawmakers. His humility was only rivaled by his courage. Mujica is an inspiration for the global cannabis movement, and he will be missed. Reporter Javier Hasse likely captured it best in his article for Benzinga.

“As the world continues to move toward legalization and regulation, Mujica’s legacy stands as a reminder that real change comes from courage and from putting people first.” Hasse wrote. Javier also wrote a separate piece for Forbes, which contains data highlighting how successful Uruguay’s legalization model has proven to be over the years. It is an insightful article, and I encourage everyone to read it.

Rest in peace, President Mujica. You will remain a hero to many, and your legacy will endure forever.

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Rate Of Legal Cannabis Buyers Continues To Increase In Uruguay

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy.

Uruguay became the first nation on earth to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization law back in 2013. The first legal recreational sales were launched in registered pharmacies in Uruguay in 2017. Since that time, the number of adults making legal purchases in Uruguay has increased considerably.

“The number of legal marijuana buyers rose to some 102,156 people over the course of last year, boosted by the market debut of the Epsilon variant, which has a higher THC content (20%), and was in high demand.” reported Ambito.

“The new, more potent variant debuted in October, and in the following two months alone, a total of 359 kilos were sold in pharmacies, more than what had been sold up to that point of Alpha or Beta, according to data provided by the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA).” the media outlet also reported in its local coverage.

When legal sales at pharmacies began in Uruguay in the summer of 2017, consumers could initially choose from two different strains. The two strains are named ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’, each with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels equal to or less than 9%, and cannabidiol (CBD) levels equal to or less than 3%.

Then, in 2022, Uruguay permitted a third option, ‘Gamma,’ which has a THC level of equal to or less than 15%, and CBD levels of equal to or less than 1%. Regulators in Uruguay then approved a fourth option that contains a higher level of THC than the other three options.

“The new variant has a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of equal to or less than 20% and a cannabidiol (CBD) content of equal to or less than 1%.” stated Latin America Reports in its local coverage at the time of the strain’s launch.

Currently, 74,583 adult consumers are reportedly registered to make legal recreational cannabis purchases from Uruguay’s 40 authorized pharmacies making sales. Additionally, a reported 15,796 adults are members of 460 cannabis clubs registered in Uruguay, and another 11,597 adults reportedly cultivate legal plants in their homes.

Uruguay’s legal cannabis companies exported over $3 million worth of medical cannabis products in the last year to such nations as Germany, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Uruguay’s export data is part of a report recently published by the Uruguay XXI Institute.

Uruguay’s Legal Cannabis Exports Continue To Increase

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business.

Uruguay will forever hold the title of being the first country to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Lawmakers in Uruguay adopted recreational cannabis legalization in 2013, with legal domestic sales beginning in the nation’s pharmacies in 2017.

The South American nation is rapidly becoming a top source of legal medical cannabis products for other countries. Uruguay’s legal cannabis companies exported over $3 million worth of medical cannabis products in the last year to such nations as Germany, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Uruguay’s export data is part of a new report published by the Uruguay XXI Institute.

“In 2023, Uruguayan companies exported about 25 tons of cannabis, of which 83% corresponded to medicinal flowers, with sales of USD 1.5 million.” El Planteo reported about the previous year’s statistics for contextual purposes.

The report by the Uruguay XXI Institute also determined the following:

  • Uruguay’s domestic adult-use consumer base is an estimated 250,000 people
  • The Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries has issued cultivation licenses to 36 companies
  • Annual consumption of recreational cannabis in Uruguay is between 44 and 50 tons

Legal sales at pharmacies began in Uruguay in the summer of 2017, and consumers could initially choose from two different strains. The two strains are named ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’, each with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels equal to or less than 9%, and cannabidiol (CBD) levels equal to or less than 3%.

Then, in 2022, Uruguay permitted a third option, ‘Gamma,’ which has a THC level equal to or less than 15%, and CBD levels equal to or less than 1%. Regulators in Uruguay recently approved a fourth option that contains a higher level of THC than the other three options.

“The new variant has a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of equal to or less than 20% and a cannabidiol (CBD) content of equal to or less than 1%.” stated Latin America Reports in its local coverage.

“Currently, 71,843 Uruguayan citizens are legally registered to purchase cannabis in pharmacies, 11,708 have received permission to grow it at home, and 13,687 are members of cannabis clubs.” the outlet also reported.

Cannabis flower bud prerolls joints

Pharmacies In Uruguay To Sell Recreational Cannabis With Higher THC Levels

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Uruguay became the first country on earth to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure back in 2013, with legal recreational cannabis sales launching in 2017, including sales through the nation’s pharmacies.

Legal sales at pharmacies began in Uruguay in the summer of 2017, and consumers could initially choose from two different strains. The two strains are named ‘Alpha’ and ‘Beta’, each with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels equal to or less than 9%, and cannabidiol (CBD) levels equal to or less than 3%.

Then, in 2022, Uruguay permitted a third option, ‘Gamma,’ which has a THC level of equal to or less than 15%, and CBD levels of equal to or less than 1%. Regulators in Uruguay recently approved a fourth option that contains a higher level of THC than the other three options.

“The new variant has a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of equal to or less than 20% and a cannabidiol (CBD) content of equal to or less than 1%.” stated Latin America Reports in its local coverage.

“Currently, 71,843 Uruguayan citizens are legally registered to purchase cannabis in pharmacies, 11,708 have received permission to grow it at home, and 13,687 are members of cannabis clubs.” the outlet also reported.

Right now, cannabis is legal for adult use at a national level in Uruguay, Canada, Malta, Luxembourg, Germany, and South Africa, although nationwide sales are currently only permitted in Uruguay and Canada. Regional adult-use cannabis commerce pilot trials are also currently permitted in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Recreational cannabis is also legal in two dozen states in the U.S., as well as in Washington D.C. Almost all of those jurisdictions permit legal adult-use cannabis sales, but cannabis remains prohibited at the federal level in the United States.

Uruguay Secretary Provides Update On Nation’s Cannabis Policy Approach

Written by Johnny Green on . Posted in Policy.

Uruguay will always hold the distinct title of being the first nation on the planet to pass a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. Since Uruguay passed its measure in 2013, three other nations have also passed measures, with Malta and Luxembourg having more restrictive models and Canada having a less restrictive model.

Canada’s legalization model allows all adults, regardless of residency status, to make legal purchases from regulated outlets, whereas Uruguay limits legal sales to adult residents only. Still, Uruguay’s cannabis policy modernization effort has yielded tremendous insight.

Daniel Radio, Secretary General of Uruguay’s National Drug Authority, recently spoke about his nation’s pursuits at an academic forum organized by the Drug Authority titled “IV Academic Forum: The regulation of cannabis in Uruguay and the region: progress and challenges”.

Kraut Invest translated the Secretary’s speech from Spanish to English, a transcript of which can be found on their website. Secretary Radio describes cannabis use as “innate to humanity” and suggests that prohibition policies are to blame for issues of the past, not the substance itself.

“And under the pretext of some damage to the health of some users, our societies have shifted the problem and tried to solve it through criminal law. And as a result, they have given the bulk of the resources that might be useful to research and address some of these unfortunate circumstances of problematic use to the institutions responsible for maintaining public safety in a useless, impossible fight to lead that is demoralizing for those who lead it.” Secretary Radio stated.

“The Uruguayan experience had a peculiarity. Unlike other states where the regulation of cannabis was discussed in the context of its medical use, in Uruguay, throughout the period before the adoption of the regulatory law, the focus of the discussion was always on the regulation of adult (or recreational) use.” he also stated. Secretary Radio’s speech can be found in the embedded video below:

Hemp Leaf Hemp Plant Cannabis Sativa

Uruguay’s Medical Cannabis Industry To Expand Via Authorization Of ‘Master Formulas’

Written by Hazel Norman on . Posted in Business, Policy, Science.

Uruguay was the first country to ever pass and implement a national adult-use legalization measure. Lawmakers initially passed a legalization measure back in 2013, and regulated adult-use sales via pharmacies began in 2017.

Since that time Uruguay’s emerging legal adult-use industry has garnered significant international attention and generated considerable headlines, and rightfully so. After all, what Uruguay did and continues to do on the adult-use front is truly historic.

However, Uruguay’s cannabis industry and policy are not limited to just adult-use cannabis. Uruguay’s medical cannabis program, which receives far less attention, is set to undergo a fairly substantial expansion thanks to a recent authorization by the government. Per Montevideo (translated to English):

The government established through a decree the expansion of access routes to products made from medical cannabis, by regulating a procedure to be able to carry out treatments through master formulations prescribed by treating doctors and made in authorized pharmacies.

The decree enabled access to “master preparations based on cannabis extracts or standardized cannabinoids, from companies authorized by the Department of Medicines for the production of plant raw material with pharmacological activity.” “These master preparations may exclusively contain active principles derived from cannabis,” added the second article of the regulations.

This new authorization will hopefully help some of the most suffering patients in the South American nation, who historically have had to rely on less-sophisticated forms of medical cannabis. This is not to say that raw flower and rudimentary preparations are not sufficient, as those options can clearly help many people. Yet, for some suffering patients, they are not the best option.

Depending on a suffering patient’s condition(s), certain consumption methods are not as viable as others. Additionally, particular conditions and individual cases respond better to certain formulations for various reasons, so patients in Uruguay having more options to consider is a great thing from that perspective.