Uruguay raises marijuana THC percentage in pharmacies, considers sale to tourists

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Uruguayan government decided to increase the percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component in marijuana for recreational purposes, sold in the country’s pharmacies since 2017 and is considering modifying regulations to allow its access to tourists.

On Monday (30) the Secretary General of Uruguay’s National Drug Board (JND) Daniel Radío said that, although he does not believe that it could be implemented in the current tourist season, studies are underway to modify regulations to later allow tourists access to cannabis, which could represent a tourist attraction in the future.

Radío said that as marijuana with a THC percentage of over 20% is planted and consumed in the country’s cannabis clubs, the JND decided to authorize a variant “that ranges around 10% for sale in pharmacies” which is currently being planted to be marketed in the coming months.

“The purpose will be to try to recover the market or to keep the loyalty of the current one,” he pointed out, and assured that a reduction in the percentage of cannabidiol (CBD), the component that modulates the psychoactive effect, is also planned.

According to the country’s Cannabis Regulation and Control Institute (IRCCA), Uruguayan pharmacies currently sell two varieties, ALFA and BETA, which contain a THC percentage of less than or equal to 9% and a CBD percentage equal to or higher than 3%.

The current retail price of a 5-gram package of recreational cannabis is 370 Uruguayan pesos (US$8.70).