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Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

csmonitor.com

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Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#41

Post by zmic2 »

D9u wrote: post #2

This is a good start. By removing the profit motive from cannabis production it helps to reduce cartel receipts, helps to reduce smuggling, and separates cannabis from other, truly harmful, drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. That so many US states have already made provisions to either decriminalize medical use, and or recreational use, by individuals, serves to illustrate that cannabis is nowhere n…

It has been demonstrated that cannabis causes brain damage. That's not harmful enough for you?

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#42

Post by doppenhe »

JoshTriplett wrote: post #15
md224 wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The state will license and regulate private cannabis farms and then sell the marijuana at pharmacies Curious why this is troubling... I can understand arguments for limiting government regulation, but I'm okay with cannabis being regulated much like alcohol is. Does this go beyond that? I don't have much knowledge of the inner workings of alcohol regulation, so it's hard for me to compare.

The phrasing suggests that the state does the actual selling, which seems fundamentally broken. Regulate, sure, but don't become part of the market you're regulating.

Uruguayan here.

The state has multiple monopolies on products including refining gas (there is one price for gas all over the country and its set by government), telecommunications (all phone and internet goes through Antel the government agency), water (OSE) along with a couple of others.

I think the main population concern is what this will mean for the price, quantity and quality of the product given that most of the other monopolies are known for their mediocre service, squandering of resources and mild internal corruption. I say mild because in comparison to the rest of South America Uruguay has the lowest corruption level but there is still clear favoritism within government agencies, very lazy workers (they can't get fired). The main argument against the current legislation is that allowing private companies to produce the product (like tobacco) and applying high taxes would be way more efficient and that there is little belief that the government could efficiently pull off this operation.

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#43

Post by doppenhe »

GFischer wrote: post #10
marpalmin wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to your depiction of Uruguayan parties the "Partido Nacional" is more centrist than the "Patido Colorado". I'm not sure if I agree with that.

Both are right-wing, and both contain centrist and more right-wing factions, but I do believe the Partido Colorado is more right wing. It's not always a bad thing, I for instance would like a harder stance on security. But they do have some very troubling individuals, and my family knows Dr. Pedro Bordaberry (the son of the one that led to the dictatorship, and current leader of the party) extremely well, and he is e…

I think in general Uruguay has less extremes overall than american political parties. Overall Uruguay is social democratic country and has been that way since the end of the dictatorships (which were indeed run by the colorado party). I would say all parties find themselves either center right or center left, calling any of them right wing or left wing compared to the extremism we see in the US seems a tad off.

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#44

Post by tirant »

Raticide wrote: post #39
falk wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I admire the progress your country has made thus far, but it seems so silly to limit the quantity you can buy. Especially considering you can overdose on alcohol and kill yourself, where you can't with marijuana.

Maybe it's to avoid foreign gangs buying up lots of legal weed and shipping it out of country.

You really think gangs will buy legal weed, including all the taxes?

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#45

Post by agilebyte »

doppenhe wrote: post #43
GFischer wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both are right-wing, and both contain centrist and more right-wing factions, but I do believe the Partido Colorado is more right wing. It's not always a bad thing, I for instance would like a harder stance on security. But they do have some very troubling individuals, and my family knows Dr. Pedro Bordaberry (the son of the one that led to the dictatorship, and current leader of the party) extremely well, and he is e…

I think in general Uruguay has less extremes overall than american political parties. Overall Uruguay is social democratic country and has been that way since the end of the dictatorships (which were indeed run by the colorado party). I would say all parties find themselves either center right or center left, calling any of them right wing or left wing compared to the extremism we see in the US seems a tad off.

When you say extremism in the US do you mean regarding social or economic policies?

(looking at things from the UK)

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#46

Post by werid »

GFischer wrote: post #3

Well, I'm from Uruguay, so I'll be glad to answer any questions on the subject :) The bill was proposed by the governing left wing Broad Front coalition, and voted by all their congressmen. While the vote appears close, there was more consensus than is shown. My party (Partido Independiente, the smallest of the four represented) decided not to vote the whole bill, but only some parts, because they're for legalization…

> My party decided not to vote the whole bill, but only some parts

how does this work? if some parts get enough votes they are turned into law, but the rest of the bill scrapped?

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#47

Post by doppenhe »

agilebyte wrote: post #45
doppenhe wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think in general Uruguay has less extremes overall than american political parties. Overall Uruguay is social democratic country and has been that way since the end of the dictatorships (which were indeed run by the colorado party). I would say all parties find themselves either center right or center left, calling any of them right wing or left wing compared to the extremism we see in the US seems a tad off.

When you say extremism in the US do you mean regarding social or economic policies? (looking at things from the UK)

today I would say both. Specially the republican party that has started catering to the extreme right wing conservatives. Having lived most of my life in Uruguay and only moved to the US 10 years ago I am amazed on how quickly the political system here has devolved towards the extremes.

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#48

Post by dreen »

D9u wrote: post #2

This is a good start. By removing the profit motive from cannabis production it helps to reduce cartel receipts, helps to reduce smuggling, and separates cannabis from other, truly harmful, drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. That so many US states have already made provisions to either decriminalize medical use, and or recreational use, by individuals, serves to illustrate that cannabis is nowhere n…

Amsterdam has its own problems namely hordes of drunk and high people from UK and US being loud and obnoxious. As a person who drives through the Netherlands sometimes, if you just want to chill out and smoke a nice joint in the park I recommend Eindhoven.

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#49

Post by andyhmltn »

I'm still perplexed as to why it's not already legal in most places. Of course it's all down to money and lobbying. I wouldn't mind if it was illegal if we weren't allowed to buy tobacco & alcohol either. Both of which are far more detrimental to your health.

Re: Uruguay moves to legalize marijuana

#50

Post by guard-of-terra »

tirant wrote: post #44
Raticide wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it's to avoid foreign gangs buying up lots of legal weed and shipping it out of country.

You really think gangs will buy legal weed, including all the taxes?

They surely will because even with taxes it will be order of magnitudes cheaper than illegal one.
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