As expected, the Senate of Uruguay has passed legislation to fully legalize the distribution and sale of cannabis within this South American nation. Uruguay becomes the first nation to take this bold step to end the prohibition of pot, make it an income source for the state, and begin to wind down the senseless "War on Drugs".
Uruguyan President José Mujica, who first proposed the legislation, will undoubtedly sign it into law.
This opinion piece by Hannah Hetzer gives a lot of background to this move. Uruguay has a long history of progressive legislation, and this fits right in.
Someday I think we will be giving thanks to the people of Uruguay for finally taking a stand against the insanity of criminalizing a herb that, apart from it's recreational use, can also return to its former status as one of the most useful agricultural products we know of.