Uruguay: Market and legal data analysis of the cannabis sector

22nd November 2024: Uruguay: National elections will be held on Sunday (24th November) to determine the next president. Yamandu Orsi of the leftist Broad Front (Frente Amplio) is favoured, though a close race is anticipated, press reports. Notably, cannabis was legalised in 2013 under the Broad Front’s former president José Mujica. Orsi’s opponent, Alvaro Delgado, is from the National Party, which is part of the current ruling Republican Coalition. Both candidates are considered moderate and unlikely to make major reforms, including any significant reforms to cannabis legislation.
15th October 2024: Uruguay: A new, more potent cannabis variant, epsilon, will be sold in pharmacies beginning today, press reports. In September, the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis approved the new variant, which contains up to 15% THC, for sale in pharmacies without a prescription. The most potent of the other three approved varieties only contains up to about 12% THC.
17th September 2024: Uruguay: The Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA) has approved a new variety of recreational cannabis with a higher THC concentration than is currently legally available, which pharmacies will begin selling by the end of the year, press reports. The new variety, Epsilon, will contain up to 15% THC, whereas the most potent of the other three approved varieties only contains up to about 12% THC.
6th February 2024: Uruguay: The Institute of Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA) has updated the prices of cannabis varieties dispensed at pharmacies. From 1st February, the price of packages of 5 g from the varieties Alpha, Beta and Gamma will increase. Alpha will increase from UYU420 ($10.73) to UYU430 ($10.99), Beta will increase from UYU440 ($11.25) to UYU450 ($11.50), and Gamma will increase from UYU460 ($11.76) to UYU500 ($12.78). These varieties are differentiated from each other based on THC and CBD levels.
12th January 2024: Uruguay: Daniel Radío, secretary general of the National Drugs Board (JND), announced he will propose lifting the registration requirement for purchasers of cannabis in pharmacies, press reports. He said this could further prevent the black market from evolving, as many cannabis consumers do not wish to, or cannot, register due to the complicated bureaucracy involved, and are therefore forced to obtain cannabis illegally. This amendment would also allow non-resident foreigners to purchase cannabis in the country. A bill in this regard will be introduced.
8th March 2023: Uruguay: Decree 56/023 has come into force, allowing the preparation of cannabis formulations by pharmaceutical chemists at registered pharmacies for sale under prescription.
13th December 2022: Uruguay: A new cannabis variant, with up to 15% THC – three times the level in the two currently available varieties – will become available for legal purchase from 20th December, press reports. Daniel Radio, director of the National Drug Board, said the new type might prevent people from buying cannabis on the black market.
1st September 2022: Uruguay: The National Drugs Board (JND) and the Ministry of the Interior are studying a plan to provide cannabis to prisoners, press reports. Currently, although cannabis is legal, its consumption and sale in prisons are not permitted. JND secretary general Daniel Radío said the plan would prevent drug dealers from illegally providing cannabis to prisoners through visiting family members.
10th August 2022: Uruguay: The government is set to introduce a regulation under the Law on Access to Medical Cannabis, press reports. According to the authorities, it will focus on pharmacists’ prescription-based preparations rather than on flowers with high THC content. Daniel Radío, secretary general of the National Drugs Board (JND), said the regulation could be passed by the end of the year. He added that the government was exploring the possibility of making medical cannabis accessible to non-resident foreigners, who currently cannot access it in Uruguay.
19th July 2022: Uruguay: Far-right minority party Cabildo Abierto will next week propose the repeal of the law that legalised cannabis in 2013, press reports. Although president Luis Lacalle Pou believes the current system can be “improved and perfected”, for example by ending state production of cannabis and leaving it to private citizens and cannabis clubs, he is not in favour of repeal.
28th June 2022: Uruguay: Rodrigo Ferrés, president of the Drug Board and deputy secretary of the Presidency, has told media that proposals to allow the sale of recreational cannabis to tourists have failed for now and must be studied further before they are adopted. Proposals to allow non-residents who are legally in the country to purchase recreational cannabis and access cannabis clubs have been discussed for many months.
13th June 2022: Uruguay: Senator Eduardo Antonini of the opposition party Frente Amplio, vice-chair of the Tourism Committee, has introduced a bill to allow tourists access to recreational cannabis, press reports. Uruguayan residents can access cannabis through self-cultivation, cannabis clubs and pharmacies, but tourists currently cannot use any of these channels.

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