Uruguay was the first South American country to create a legal national cannabis market in 2013.
Uruguay’s General Assembly approved Law No. 19,172 in December 2013. The law placed cannabis production, distribution, and consumption under state regulation rather than leaving the market entirely to prohibition or private commercial sales. The policy was introduced under President José Mujica.
The regulated system later allowed registered adults to obtain cannabis through home cultivation, membership clubs, or licensed pharmacies. Consumers must register with the national regulatory system and select one access method. Rules have changed over time, including purchase limits and eligibility requirements.
Uruguay’s policy is often confused with decriminalization, which is not the same as creating a regulated national market. Uruguay’s law was notable because it established a nationwide framework covering supply as well as personal possession.