URUGUAY has the dubious privilege of being the first nation in the world to legalise the cultivation, sale and consumption of marijuana, in an attempt to tackle drug cartels, reports the BBC.
After nearly 12 hours of debate, senators in the South American country gave the government-sponsored bill the historic final approval, which follows up on the lower house approval given in July last year.
The law allowing registered Uruguayans over 18 to buy up to 40g (1.4oz) of the drug a month is expected to come into force this month - just trumping a move by Canada which intends to also move on legitimising cannabis use.
The Canadian government has just last week said it will introduce legislation within two weeks to legalise recreational marijuana for anyone over 18, with expectations of having a regulated legal marijuana market up and running by next year's Canada Day which occurs on 01 Jul 2018 (PD 06 Apr).
Both governments have said they are hoping to rein in illegal drug trafficking by regulating and controlling the market.
Presenting the bill to fellow senators, Uruguay's Roberto Conde said it was an unavoidable response to reality, given that the "war" against drugs had failed.
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