Uruguay to legalise marijuana trade

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

Uruguay became the first country to legalise the production and distribution of marijuana. Now the government has total control of the growing and selling of marijuana (also called cannabis). Uruguay's president wants to stop drug traffickers and put them out of business. He hopes his laws and the government control of marijuana sales will reduce drug use and drug-related crime. He knows it is an experiment that might not be successful.

The new law goes against a 1961 international treaty on drug control. This limits the use of cannabis "to medical and scientific purposes". A treaty spokesman said he was surprised that Uruguay broke the agreement, which is supported internationally. He warned the law could backfire and have the opposite effect. Younger people might try drugs. There might be more addiction and other problems among Uruguay's young people.

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://en.mercopress.com/2013/12/11/first-obstacle-for-uruguay-s-marijuana-bill-it-violates-international-convention-on-drug-control
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-12-11/uruguay-oks-first-national-market-for-legal-pot
http://www.economywatch.com/features/uruguay-legalises-marijuana-trade.12-12.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	the production and distribution	a.	related crime
2.	stop drug traffickers and put	b.	of marijuana sales
3.	government control	c.	not be successful
4.	reduce drug	d.	of marijuana
5.	drug-	e.	them out of business
6.	an experiment that might	f.	use

MY e-BOOK

ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	The new law goes against a 1961	a.	and scientific purposes
2.	drug	b.	effect
3.	medical	c.	international treaty
4.	He warned the law could	d.	addiction
5.	have the opposite	e.	backfire
6.	There might be more	f.	control

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Uruguay became the first (1) ___________________ the production and distribution of marijuana. Now the government (2) ___________________ the growing and selling of marijuana (also called cannabis). Uruguay's president wants to stop drug traffickers and (3) ___________________ business. (4) ___________________ and the government control of marijuana sales will reduce drug use and (5) ___________________. He knows it is an experiment that (6) ___________________.

The new law goes against a 1961 (7) ___________________ on drug control. This limits the use of cannabis "to (8) ___________________ purposes". A treaty spokesman (9) ___________________ that Uruguay broke the agreement, which is (10) ___________________. He warned the law could backfire and have (11) ___________________. Younger people might try drugs. There might (12) ___________________ and other problems among Uruguay's young people.

WAR ON DRUGS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about the War on Drugs in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about the War on Drugs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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