Lawmakers in Uruguay's lower house approved a bill late Wednesday night to legalize marijuana, the New York Times reports.
Legislators voted 50 to 46 in favor of the bill in Montevideo, the country's capital. President Jose Mujica supports the bill and suggests that it is what's needed to curb street crime and drug smuggling.
Mujica has been known to support liberal policies, including recent abortion rights laws, same-sex marriage, and renewable energy projects. However, he did urge the bill to be postponed after a poll suggested most Uruguayans were opposed to the legalization. The bill has been under consideration for over a year.
The bill, which could be in effect next month, would allow people to grow marijuana in their homes with a limit of six plants per household. There would also be the chance to form cooperatives, allowing for 99 plants. In addition, private companies would be allowed to grow the plant but only be allowed to sell their product to the government, which would then be sold in pharmacies.
In order to purchase marijuana from pharmacies, customers would have to register into a federal database - intended to remain confidential- and would limit orders to 40 grams per month. This would only be allowed for legal residents of Uruguay to prevent foreign tourists from flooding the country to smoke pot legally.
Laura Blanco, president of Uruguay's Cannabis Studies Association, said the bill represents an "encouraging" sign that other countries in Latin America may begin following as debates continue among leaders.
"This is a very innovative bill, with the state deciding to regulate the entire chain of production, distribution and access to the substance," Blanco explained.
The bill is still met with concern, mostly with Uruguay's youth in mind. Gerardo Amarilla, a legislator with Uruguay's National Party, expressed his opposition by claiming the bill is "an adventure which may end up endangering an entire generation."
