Uruguay's Senate approved a new law to create the world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana, putting the government in charge of production and sales of a market that everyone knows exists practically unfettered but is controlled by criminals. 

“Today is an historic day.  Many countries of Latin America, and many governments, will take this law as an example,” said Senator Constanza Moreira, voting with the Broad Front party majority.  The plan now awaits the signature of President Jose Mujica, who wants the market to begin operating next year.

“We've given this market as a gift to the drug traffickers and that is more destructive socially than the drug itself, because it rots the whole of society,” said the 78-year-old former guerrilla fighter turned president, who lives humbly and refuses the trappings of his office.  Mujica has long maintained that the drug traffickers are worse than the drugs themselves.  The new law seeks to defund the gangs.

Everyone involved must be licensed and registered.  Government monitors would enforce limits of 40 grams of pot per a month for any adult, purchased for any reason at pharmacies.  Licensed growers would be allowed to cultivate as many as six plants in their homes.  Cannabis clubs could grow up to 99 plants for 45 members.

Polls show a majority opposes legalization, but that number is rapidly dropped as the bill moved through Uruguay’s congress.  Critics say it will encourage young people to smoke marijuana.  Proponents note that anyone who wants to smoke already does.

“This is not liberalization of marijuana.  It can be consumed within certain parameters established by law.  I think it will reduce consumption,” said Senator Luis Gallo, another proponent of the plan.

If Uruguay’s experiment succeeds it is expected to fuel momentum for wider legalization of marijuana elsewhere.