Related: <a title="Washington D.C. Cannabis Laws Explained" href="https://weedzly.com/library/washington-dc-cannabis-laws-explained">Washington D.C. Cannabis Laws Explained</a>
<h2 id="0">Uruguay the first country to legalize marijuana</h2>
In 2013, the Uruguayan government became the first country to legalize the production, distribution, and sale of marijuana. Under the new law, citizens over the age of 18 years old could purchase up to 40 grams of marijuana per month from licensed pharmacies.&nbsp;
<h3 id="1">History of marijuana legalization in Uruguay</h3>
Uruguay was the first country in the world to <a href="https://weedzly.com/library/states-that-have-recently-legalized-cannabis">regulate the marijuana</a> market, taking consumers out of the black market and into licensed pharmacies, where sales would be closely monitored.&nbsp;
At first glance, this would seem like a very radical move and one that overlooks some critical factors. For instance, education on drugs, an illicit market, and demand for harder drugs such as cocaine.
The NDC, headed by Diego Olivera, told the Associated Press in June 2018 that they never expected to eliminate the black market for marijuana in a short amount of time. They claimed it would be gradual.
Despite the new legislation, the drug is still very difficult to access. This is because of the small number of pharmacies enrolled in Uruguay's marijuana program.&nbsp; There are just about 1000 pharmacies in Uruguay, with only about a third of them being registered to sell marijuana in 2017.
Other challenges surrounding marijuana legalization relates to enforcement. There are cases of cultivators participating in legal home-growers and being wrongfully arrested.
<h3 id="2">Status of Legal Market</h3>
Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalize marijuana. Recently in 2018, Canada became the second nation to do so. This legalization movement is part of a more significant cultural shift in understanding and acceptance of weed emerging worldwide.
The legal status of marijuana in Uruguay has been complex due to the international drug control treaties that the country shares with other countries. However, even after the pioneering legislation legalizing marijuana, the path to entry into the publics hands has been crooked and, at times, completely stifled.
In March 2018, researchers from the Brookings institution analyzed the opportunities and obstacles faced by legalization in the South American country. The studies suggest that the current framework is inadequate to defeat illicit narcotics.
For instance, many Uruguayan banks backed off from doing business with marijuana cultivators and retailers. They were afraid they would violate international treaties or forfeit business from American and UN banks.
Uruguay pioneered the legalization of marijuana yet only 17 of its 1,000 pharmacies stock the drug. Those who do must operate on a cash-only basis.
The recent politics have also made marijuana much less available. The president, Ministry of Health, and the National Police have been inconsistent in their policies and enforcement.&nbsp;