Uruguay is once again weighing the possibility of allowing tourists and non-residents over 18 who visit the South American nation to buy legal cannabis even if they aren’t citizens. The executive director of IRCCA (the Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis), Martín Rodríguez, confirmed that the agency is analyzing this option to strengthen the country’s legal cannabis market, expand the reach of the formal market, and weaken the illicit one. Currently, only people with permanent residency or a Uruguayan ID card can access regulated sales in pharmacies, which today offer four varieties: ALFA, BETA, GAMMA, and ÉPSILON. The underlying issue, however, goes beyond attracting visitors: it’s tied to the original goals of the country’s regulatory framework.
