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AlterNet reports
In a Sunday presidential run-off election in Uruguay, Frente Amplio (Broad Front) candidate Tabaré Vázquez beat opposition candidate Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou by 53.6 to 41.1 percent, a vote that had major implications for the future of Uruguay's historic marijuana regulation.
While Vázquez has promised to continue implementing marijuana regulation, National Party opposition candidate Lacalle Pou had said that if he were to become president, he would repeal major parts of the law, including government-regulated sales to adults--the most distinguishing feature of the Uruguayan initiative.
"Sunday's presidential election result safeguards Uruguay's historic marijuana legalization" said Hannah Hetzer, Policy Manager of the Americas at the Drug Policy Alliance. "The Uruguayan people determinedly chose the presidential candidate who will continue the country's progressive policies, including the roll out of the world's first national legally regulated marijuana market."
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Ellis D. Tripp on Saturday December 13 2014, @12:17AM
Sounds like something conservatives would try to implement here as a "bipartisan compromise on drug policy". You know, a way to track the pot users, so they can be denied jobs, security clearances, medical care, public assistance, etc. despite pot itself being legal.
"Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!"--Edward Abbey
(Score: 2, Insightful) by anubi on Saturday December 13 2014, @02:05AM
Making pot illegal does little more than fund a black market, enriching a lot of people to buy the hardware they need to defend themselves against those who try to enforce the law, and generally destroying respect for all law.
Didn't we learn that by empirical methods (prohibition) almost 100 years ago?
Pot laws, like Prohibition laws, have a lot of nasty unintended consequences.
If someone is dead set to do something, you aren't going to stop it by wagging a pen on paper. The deed will be done behind your back. Its kinda futile to pass that kind of law in the first place. It just makes criminals out of a lot of people who were otherwise contributing members of society, and enriches those who will take the risks of breaking that law. It would have been better all around if that law had never been penned in the first place.
The only alcohol laws I have much respect for is the ones restricting driving under the influence and manufacture of alcohol for sale, as I am quite aware of the economic savings that can be made at the expense of producing a poisonous product.
My own suspicion is the powers that be consider pot a major problem because its so easy to grow your own if you are so inclined, and they haven't figured out a way to exact a payment out of you for doing it.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday December 13 2014, @04:30AM
When you make something illegal, you lose all control of that market.
Ask a teenager: "Which is easier to get, weed or booze?"
"Weed, dude; they ask for ID for booze."
-- gewg_
I just heard "Mr. Santa" by a group called Chaise Lounge.
It's to the tune of "Mr. Sandman".
Lots of fun. Really put me in the holiday spirit.