Reuters
Published Oct 22, 2014 09:29AM ET
Exclusive: Uruguay presidential candidate would repeal marijuana law
By Esteban Farat
MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) - Uruguay's leading opposition candidate said on Wednesday he would try to repeal much of the country's ground-breaking marijuana law, which permits the commercial production and sale of the drug, if he wins Sunday's presidential election.
The South American country became the world's first to allow the cultivation, distribution and use of marijuana, but almost two in three Uruguayans oppose the pioneering experiment that aims to wrest control of the trade from drug gangs.
"I will keep the law's articles that allow users to grow their own cannabis at home and authorize smoking clubs and repeal the rest, in particular the state's commercialization of the drug," Luis Lacalle Pou told Reuters.
This was the first time the 41-year-old candidate for the centrist National Party has commented on the actions he would take on the marijuana law.
"I will send a bill to parliament to repeal it," Lacalle Pou said. "We will need a majority in parliament, and I will look for support."
The presidential candidate for the right-wing Colorado Party has publicly opposed the law.
Polls show Lacalle Pou trailing the candidate for the left-wing Frente Amplio ("Broad Front") ruling coalition, Tabare Vazquez, who has endorsed the law.
But with both men projected to fall short of the absolute majority needed for a first-round victory, they will probably go to a late November runoff, where polls show them running neck and neck.
Uruguay passed the marijuana law in December, but leftist incumbent President Jose Mujica, has struggled to roll out the reform, which other Latin American states have followed closely.
Mujica, a 79-year-old ex-guerrilla, is constitutionally barred from running for a second consecutive term.
Lacalle Pou also said he would not grant asylum to six Guantanamo Bay detainees whom Mujica has offered to receive.
(Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
Written By: Reuters
Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.