The global tide concerning marijuana legalization is slowly turning. Amsterdam, with its famous coffeeshops where smoking cannabis is OK, was once the international city most associated with legally smoking marijuana. But more countries are passing legislation either decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana in some form. In fact, almost half the states in the United States have legalized marijuana somehow — with more likely to follow suit. 

Members of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), KOPAC and Dioscorides Global Holdings (DGH) were joined by the Minister of Health for the Czech Republic recently to announce the establishment of a new research center, the International Cannabis and Cannabinoid Institute (ICCI) – intended to foster evidence-based exploration with a modern scientific approach to refine the therapeutic applicability of cannabis-based medicines in the Czech Republic. ICCI will identify, coordinate and support global research priorities for the advancement of cannabis and cannabinoid treatments through a multidisciplinary evidence based approach that incorporates innovative tools and approaches.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- Colorado leads the way in the marijuana business with states, countries and even Universities around the world looking at our program.  A group of Denver University (DU) students traveled to Uruguay as part of an international study program to examine the country’s cannabis culture and how it compares to Colorado.

It was a surprise for the students when they saw a glimpse of a marijuana grow cultivated by the Uruguay government.   “Wow…It was a room that looked like a field of marijuana plants. I’d never seen anything like that.” said Brittany Sandage.

Colorado leads the way in the marijuana business with states, countries and even Universities around the world looking at our program.  A group of Denver University (DU) students traveled to Uruguay as part of an international study program to examine the country’s cannabis culture and how it compares to Colorado.

It was a surprise for the students when they saw a glimpse of a marijuana grow cultivated by the Uruguay government.   “Wow…It was a room that looked like a field of marijuana plants. I’d never seen anything like that.” said Brittany Sandage.

On Dec. 10, 2013, Uruguay led the way in marijuana reform as the first country in the world to legalize the cannabis trade.

It was former leftist president, Jose Mujica, who pushed the initiative to legalize marijuana.

He argued that the marijuana market already existed and would continue to exist, and legalizing it would allow the state to regulate and tax a commodity that had, up to that point, been fully run by criminal organizations, as reported by Reuters.

Per Reuters:

Registered Uruguayan consumers will be able to access three types of marijuana in drug stores with high, medium and low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol and correspondent levels of cannabidiol, said Milton Romani, president of the country's national drug office, on Saturday.

“There are three options, depending on the effect of each one ... (we are) trying to recommend the lowest level for beginners,” Romani told Reuters at the 2015 Expocannabis taking place in the country’s capital Montevideo.

Authorities were offered various genetically modified plants with controllable effects within the framework of the recent decriminalization of marijuana aimed at eradicating the illegal commercialization both foreign and domestic.

With Canada currently examining ways to legally regulate the distribution of recreational cannabis, we thought it was a good idea to take an updated look at the only country in the world that has legalized the sale of cannabis; Uruguay (other countries may turn a blind eye to cannabis sales, but Uruguay is the only one where it has been statutorily legalized).

Authorities in Uruguay say the country's legal pot-growing clubs may be selling marijuana and cannabis products without approval, creating a kind of "gray market."

The pot-growing clubs are allowed to have 45 members who can collectively cultivate up to 99 plants for personal use, but they cannot sell the marijuana.

Uruguay became the first nation to approve marijuana legalization and regulation in 2013.

The law also allows Uruguayan adults to buy up to 40 grams of marijuana from pharmacies once a month. But there have been delays in implementing the pioneering plan.

Montevideo - Authorities in Uruguay say the country's legal pot-growing clubs may be selling marijuana and cannabis products without approval, creating a kind of "gray market".

The pot-growing clubs are allowed to have 45 members who can collectively cultivate up to 99 plants for personal use, but they cannot sell the marijuana.

Uruguay became the first nation to approve marijuana legalization and regulation in 2013.

The law also allows Uruguayan adults to buy up to 40g of marijuana from pharmacies once a month. But there have been delays in implementing the pioneering plan.

MONTEVIDEO – The government is analyzing several different kinds of marijuana to select the ones to be sold in pharmacies under Uruguay’s pot-decriminalization program, the chairman of the National Drugs Board said.

“What the government is doing is to guarantee ... the quality of cannabis because the product that reaches people who decide to consume it must have a certain quality and amounts of components,” Juan Andres Roballo told reporters.

He said the Institute for Cannabis Regulation and Control and the National Seed Institute are the agencies measuring the percentage of THC – the principal psychoactive ingredient in marijuana – and overall quality of several types of seeds “to minimize harm.”