Versión Español
Starting on Tuesday, May 2nd, marijuana buyers will be able to officially register at 65 post offices throughout Uruguay.
People over 18 who have legal or natural Uruguayan citizenship, or foreigners with permanent residence may purchase the herb in quantities of five or ten grams at local pharmacies.
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Post office sources explained that for the registration procedure it is necessary to show an ID and a proof of address.
Afterwards, they will verify that the applicants are not registered through any of the other ways provided by law, whether in a home-growing group or membership in a cannabis club.
At the time of registration, officials will take the fingerprints of the user, which will allow access to the substance in the future, without losing anonymity.
The next step will be to fill out a demographic form for statistical purposes.
According to local sources, the process takes no more than five minutes and can be done in any of the country’s 19 provinces.
Once the drug is on sale, each user will have access to up to 40 grams per month, but the exact date in which marijuana sales will begin in shops is not yet known, although it is currently scheduled for July.
The beginning of the registration is simultaneous to the launch of an advertising campaign which warns that marijuana use “limits concentration and memory” and “can cause diseases” and “psychological problems.”
The campaign “regulation is responsible”, seeks to raise awareness about the non-medical use of cannabis, and consists of several advertisements, sound clips, radio announcements, and graphics which also report on the registration of cannabis in pharmacies.
Uruguay has long led the Latin American region with developing liberal social policies.
Sources: Infobae; El Observador; La Tercera
