Uruguay Increases Cannabis THC Content & Considers Tourist Sales

Uruguay, which legalized adult-use cannabis in 2013, will increase the THC content of cannabis sold in pharmacies and will consider allowing tourists to purchase cannabis products, according to an EFE report.

Since 2017, Uruguayan adults aged 18 or older have been able to enter a government registry to purchase recreational cannabis from state-licensed pharmacies. But while pharmacies have only been dispensing cannabis products since 2017, personal cultivation and cannabis cultivation clubs—where up to 45 registered adults can share a space to cultivate and consume cannabis—have been available since 2014.

Pharmacies currently dispense two strains of cannabis called ALFA and BETA which respectively contain about 9% THC and 3% CBD. Officials hope that by increasing the THC content of commercially available cannabis, the products will better compete with those grown in the cannabis clubs—which average a THC content of about 20%—according to the report.

Concerning tourist sales, Daniel Radío, the general secretary for Uruguay’s National Drug Board, said on Monday that any change was unlikely to take effect this tourist season but that he will study the possible effects of letting international visitors to the country buy cannabis products, including how it may boost Uruguay’s overall tourism attraction.

Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2013 under the leadership of former President José Mujica.