Cannabis Legalization in Uruguay

1. Cannabis Legalization in Uruguay
María Fernanda Boidi
José Miguel Cruz
Rosario Queirolo
The Cannabis Science & Policy Summit
The Latin American Marijuana Research Initiative (LAMRI)

2.  The initiative in Uruguay focuses in four
areas:
 Public opinion analysis in Uruguay (national surveys)
 The impact on behavior among frequent consumers
(Respondent Driven Sample survey in Montevideo)
 Profile and membership of Cannabis Clubs
 Implementation of retail distribution in pharmacies

3.  This presentation focuses in two areas:
 Public opinion analysis in Uruguay (national
surveys)
 The impact on behavior among frequent
consumers (Respondent Driven Sample survey in
Montevideo)

4. How did marijuana regulation occur in
Uruguay?
 Reasons for regulation very different from the U.S. experience
 President José Mujica’s initiative
 It was presented as a measure to tackle the increasing perception citizen
insecurity
 It aimed to reduce the leverage of criminal organizations tied to drug-
trafficking
 It regulates production, commercialization, and consumption in the
country

5. Do you agree or disagree with the
Cannabis Regulation Law? (%)
Sources: AmericasBarometer 2014 & CIFRA poll 2015.

6. In fact, as of 2014, most Uruguayans had negative
opinions about marijuana consumption
71.8
71.7
71.6
48.5
0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0
Marijuana is harmful to people's health
Marijuana is the gateway to hard drugs
People will continue buying illegal marijuana
Marijuana consumers are a threat to society
Average (0-100)
95 % Confidence Interval
(with Design-Effects)
Source: AmericasBarometer, LAPOP, Uruguay 2014
Opinions about marijuana consumption

7. By late 2015, most Uruguayans rejected
cannabis distribution through pharmacies
Sources: CIFRA poll 2015.

8. However, in 2015, a majority of
Uruguayans approved buying medicinal
cannabis
Sources: AmericasBarometer 2014 & CIFRA poll 2015.

9. …and viewed State intervention favorably
Sources: CIFRA poll 2015.

10. However, many Uruguayans have seen an
increase in cannabis use
Sources: CIFRA poll 2015.

11. …But data are not consistent
April 2014 September 2015
Have you ever used
marijuana?
22.1% 17.4%
Have family & friends
used marijuana?
48.6% 53.4%
Sources: AmericasBarometer 2014 & CIFRA poll 2015.

12.  Law implementation still face many challenges, especially:
 General disapproval toward the law
 Concerns about distribution in pharmacies
 Yet, Uruguayans prefer state regulation than market-driven
legalization and view medicinal cannabis favorably
 Previous points illustrate challenges marijuana law is facing:
– Poor communication strategy
– Lack of prevention strategies
In Sum

13. Maria Fernanda Boidi
fboidi@researchandconsulting.com
José Miguel Cruz
jomcruz@fiu.edu
Rosario Queirolo
rosario.queirolo@ucu.edu.uy
Thanks!