Is Marijuana Legal in Uruguay?

Marijuana is legal in Uruguay for both medical and recreational purposes.

As one of the first nations in Latin America (and the world) to legalize recreational cannabis for adult personal use, Uruguay has paved the way for other nations to legalize cannabis use.

Medical Marijuana Laws in Uruguay

Medical marijuana is legal in Uruguay, in addition to recreational marijuana.

While there are often notable financial benefits to obtaining a medical card, it is not an absolute necessity in Uruguay, because it is legal for all adult residents.

There are a few ways for Uruguayan residents to obtain cannabis. Cannabis users can purchase products from licensed pharmacies, join a Cannabis Club, or grow a limited number of cannabis plants at home.

It is clear that the Uruguayan government has made substantial efforts to ensure accessibility of the legal marijuana market, which could be helpful in terms of reducing drug-related violence, drug trafficking in an illegal market, and more.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Uruguay

In the decade since President José Mujica signed Uruguay’s cannabis program into law, the industry has expanded. Uruguay’s marijuana market does not actively prioritize medical patients over recreational cannabis users.

Overall, however, the nation does appear to have established a strong cannabis industry, even if this industry does not appear to have impacted gangs as significantly as government officials may have hoped.

Uruguay’s cannabis industry is also not an anything-goes kind of market, as strict regulations are still in place.

Tourists Can Not Buy Cannabis

If you plan to make Uruguay a stop on your cannabis tourism journey,  you should think again.

Uruguay’s cannabis industry is only available to the country’s residents or nationals. There have been discussions and proposals regarding a potential change to these laws, allowing tourists to buy recreational marijuana.

However, until a new law is set in stone, people who are not Uruguayan citizens should not expect to have the opportunity to purchase cannabis legally in Uruguay.

The Industry Has Faced Issues

Recreational cannabis was legalized alongside medical marijuana in Uruguay in 2013, but sales did not actually begin until 2017.

And just a couple of years later, in 2019, only 17 pharmacies in the entire country were selling cannabis products due in part to strict banking regulations.

A lack of consistent product availability, paired with the lack of cannabis tourism, means that the legal cannabis industry, which still brings in millions, has not yet replaced the illicit market. In fact, many residents still prefer the illicit market.

None of the issues faced by Uruguay’s legal cannabis industry are signs that they were wrong to implement a legal market.

Instead, Uruguay’s marijuana growing pains are par for the course for a nation that was so far ahead of many other countries. Similar issues exist in the United States but are less centralized due to the differing laws from state to state.

Can You Grow Cannabis In Uruguay?

If you are a citizen or lawful resident of Uruguay, yes, you can grow cannabis. Citizens can cultivate up to six cannabis plants at home.

The Bottom Line

You may not be able to buy cannabis as a visitor to Uruguay anytime soon. Uruguayan citizens, on the other hand, have three strong legal methods of accessing marijuana for medical or personal use: seeing a pharmacist, joining a Cannabis Club, or growing cannabis plants at home.

Uruguay’s cannabis industry may not yet be perfect, but cannabis users in Latin America and around the world should appreciate the precedents Uruguay set by legalizing marijuana in 2013.