Uruguay's Vázquez moves against marijuana plan

[forest444]

Source: Buenos Aires Herald

‘We’re in no rush,’ says new gov’t as it temporarily postpones pot sales in pharmacies.

MONTEVIDEO — Barely five days into its new term, Tabaré Vázquez sought to distance himself from his predecessor once again yesterday, with Uruguay’s new president temporarily postponing José Mujica’s landmark marijuana legalization plans.

The move, coming just one day after the government seemed to harden its position toward Venezuela, indicates that Vázquez is keen to draw a line between his administration and that of the former president, who is affectionately referred to as “Pepe.” Mujica, who forced a decriminalization and reform package through Congress in December 2013, was a keen promoter of the initiative, arguing that the war on drugs had failed and that it was time to take a different approach. Vázquez, on the other hand, has often expressed his doubts about altering the law.

President Vázquez, who is a doctor specialized in oncology, told the local media last year he found it “incredible” that marijuana would be sold in pharmacies and that he would “pay close attention to the effects of the plan (law) to evaluate if it is necessary to back-track (the law).”

Read more: http://buenosairesherald.com/article/183510/uruguays-v%C3%A1zquez-moves-against-marijuana-plan-

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Talk about buzzkill.

[Judi Lynn]

1. No kidding. Hope he will get over his political self! Thanks. n/t

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. The growing collectives are still going on and there are a couple thousand registered grows.

Vazquez's drug adviser says they're delaying because they want to do it right. We'll see.

Mujica sold this as a move against organized crime. Cutting back on the legal sales aspect would undercut that goal.