Uruguay has become the first country to legalise the production and distribution of marijuana. It is the only nation where the government has total control of the commercialisation of marijuana (also called cannabis). Uruguay's President Jose Mujica said he wants to stop the activities of drug traffickers and put them out of business. He hopes that his legalisation and the monitoring of marijuana sales by the state will reduce dependence on the drug and drug-related crime. Mr Mujica said he knew that it was "an experiment" which had no guarantee of being successful.

The legalisation goes against an international treaty on drug control. Uruguay signed the 1961 Convention on Narcotic Drugs. This limits the use of cannabis "to medical and scientific purposes". The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was surprised that Uruguay had decided to break the agreement, which is supported internationally. The INCB warned the move could backfire and not protect young people. It could have the opposite effect and encourage younger people to try drugs. There might contribute to more addiction and other problems among Uruguay's youth.