Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalize the sale and production of marijuana in 2013 under left-wing president Jose Mujica, who saw the law as a way to keep its citizens away from drug trafficking networks.
Since then, three ways of obtaining cannabis have been allowed: growing it in house for individual consumption, belonging to cooperatives private to grow it or buy it from pharmacies, under state control.
Dozens of drugstores sell cannabis for around $ 10 for five grams, which is competitive with black market prices.
But for the current center-right president, the state should not be part of the process of growing or selling “drugs” because they are “unprofitable”.
“We made a mistake,” Lakayet said, adding, “The system is in vigor and it is difficult to change it overnight “.