Uruguay Opens First State-Owned and Operated Weed Dispensary

Uruguay is set to pioneer the world’s first state owned and operated marijuana dispensaries, The Guardian reports. Starting in July, Uruguayans—who enjoy a socially liberal government—can now legally access up to forty grams of pot a month, at a cost of no more than $1 a gram. To do this, all the government requires is that users put their name and fingerprints in a government database.

Marijuana was legalized in Uruguay in 2013 by then-President Jose Mujica. Mujica gained international notoriety for his leftist beliefs, extremely frugal lifestyle which included donating 90% of his salary to charity. His administration’s campaign to legalize marijuana and invest in dispensaries resulted in cheap and plentiful cannabis, part of a deliberate effort to curb the influence of cartels bringing drugs into the region across the border from Paraguay.

Only two dispensaries have been approved so far, but the new laws permit anyone over 18 to grow their own.

Meanwhile, in America, a 79-year-old veteran serving a life sentence for growing three dozen marijuana plants in his backyard was denied an appeal today.