International Journal on Criminology Volume 6, Number 2, Winter 2018/Spring 2019 | Page 36

International Journal on Criminology • Volume 6, Number 2 • Winter 2018 / Spring 2019
Initial Impact of the Legalization of
Cannabis on Criminality in Uruguay
David Weinberger 1
Abstract
South America is not besieged by cannabis, and that the legalization
of the drug could only ever have a limited direct impact on
criminality. The negative aspects of the legislation, must certainly
not overshadow its positive impacts, in particular the central role
given to the state in the form of regulatory bodies equipped with
real powers. This has meant that despite the creation of a legal supply
of cannabis, the diversion of that supply into the black market
happens only extremely rarely.
Keywords: Uruguay, Drug, Legalization, South America
Impacto inicial de la legalización del
cannabis en la criminalidad en Uruguay
Resumen
América del Sur no está asediada por el cannabis, y la legalización
de la droga solo podría tener un impacto directo limitado en la
criminalidad. Los aspectos negativos de la legislación, ciertamente,
no deben eclipsar sus impactos positivos, en particular el papel
central otorgado al estado en forma de organismos reguladores equipados
con poderes reales. Esto ha significado que, a pesar de la
creación de un suministro legal de cannabis, el desvío de esa oferta
hacia el mercado negro ocurre muy raramente.
Palabras clave: Uruguay, droga, legalización, Sudamérica
1 Doctoral candidate in Sociology, research lead at the INHESJ (Institut national des hautes études
sur la sécurité et la justice [Institute of Advanced Studies on Security and Justice]), currently working
as part of the Narcoter project on issues surrounding the financing of terrorism through drug
trafficking.
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doi: 10.18278/ijc.6.2.4