American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture
No word as to whether Uruguay hopes that its status as the only country to fully regulate the cannabis industry will turn it into a magnet for investment in the snack food industry.
Cheetos, anyone?
Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .
President Mujica makes a sartorial statement.
As you may recall, Uruguay is the first country in the world to legalize the production and mass distribution of marijuana.
Boz points out, that, while keeping mum on Cuba’s human rights abuses,
It took exactly one day for the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) to announce that Uruguay’s new marijuana regulations are against international law.
But the news on marijuana is not good: Marijuana linked to brain-related memory woes, schizophrenia risk in teens
They found changes in gray matter areas of the brain associated with working memory, which is the ability to process information and transfer it to long-term memory, if needed. Gray matter is rich in neurons (nerve cells) and plays a role in routing signals to areas responsible for numerous functions like memory and movement.
Marijuana likely increases the risk of testicular cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, a type of brain tumor, and the risk of leukemia in the offspring of women who use it during pregnancy.
Keep that in mind if you’re a user.
But back to Uruguay,
Uruguay opposition demands marijuana referendum
Last minute opposition to Uruguay’s plans to legalise sale and consumption of marijuana
The rationale for the legalization “experiment” – as President Lugo calls it – is that government intervention will regulate the market.
Like the drug itself, we’ll yet find out what the side effects are.
Before you rush to Uruguay to catch a bargain, keep in mind that under the new law it remains illegal to sell pot to children or foreigners, even when the country legalized marijuana:
Growers celebrate as Uruguay prepares to legalize marijuana cultivation, distribution.
They ought to celebrate, since no other country has moved to make the production and mass distribution of marijuana legal.
President Jose Mujica has the support of George Soros, and asserts it won’t be partah-ee time,
“It is not like ‘viva la pepa’ (let the good times roll) and let’s smoke freely and we go to the seaside boardwalk, no, no, no,” said president José Mujica after his meeting with billionaire and philanthropist George Soros last week, who supports the legislation and has offered funding to evaluate the impact of the law.
Mujica, an ex guerrilla fighter, and Hungarian-American magnate George Soros, believe that legalizing the drug would be a strike against drug trafficking, a better way to control drug consumption and an opportunity to help those who suffer any drug disorder or addiction.
Apparently the legal marijuana will be sold in pharmacies for $1 per gram, which should leave room for a black market mark-up of another dollar or so.
“There’s gold in them thar hills”
It’s been a busy day but at least there’s time for a roundup:
Richard Fernandez has History According To Hollywood, specifically on Valerie Plame, the CIA person who according to at least one eyewitness used to drive her convertible with the top down into the CIA parking area – while she was “undercover”. Even the WaPo pours criticism on Hollywood myth-making on Valerie Plame controversy.
Liam Neeson thinks Aslan the lion of Narnia could also be Mohammed. I could also be Anouk Aimee, but I’m not. John Nolte:
And what happens just a week before the release of the latest expensive installment of a franchise on the bubble of extinction? An actor puffed up with his own importance decides to attack the very heart of the series and take what it means — it’s very essence — away from the very audience that can make it the most profitable. I don’t want to see some goofy, multi-cultural, politically correct fantasy movie because nowadays everything’s multicultural, politically correct and goofy. Call me intolerant, but I want to see a Christian movie, a movie that honors and respects my beliefs and affirms them. And if Muslims want the same, more power to them. But this ain’t it.
But please Liam, don’t stop there. Do tell us what “Taken” is really about. Let me guess, a father’s journey through an evil Walmart in search of a daughter captured by crass American materialism?
Somebody ought to tell Michelle Obama to say no to anything argyle, but MOTUS has the funniest political blog around.
Well, knock me over with a feather! Hillary ‘Clinton’s charm falls flat with Iranian minister. “I Said ‘Hello Minister.’ He Just Turned Away”. Bill could not be reached for comment.
Next thing you know, we won’t need to put down the bong here in the Garden State. Some never did.
Derek Jeeter is staying with the Yankees and I couldn’t care less.
Happy Chanukkah, GM!
