(8 Jul 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4044475
Under Uruguay's pioneering law, pharmacies in the country can sell marijuana, but many are avoiding the government's programme.
Most of the country's pharmacists haven't signed on, citing security concerns and complaining of paperwork, cost increases or opposition from customers to selling legalised pot.
Uruguay legalised the cultivation and sale of marijuana in 2013 in a bid to create the world's first government-regulated national marketplace for pot.
The goal was to fight rising homicide and crime rates associated with drug trafficking in the South American country.
But while the government wants to start selling marijuana at pharmacies in the coming weeks, so far only 50 out of 1,200 pharmacies are registered, stoking a debate over how the drug should be distributed.
The law allows for the growing of pot by licensed individuals, the formation of growers and users clubs, and the sale by pharmacies of 40 grams of marijuana a month to registered users.
While the plan has been widely applauded globally and seen as going beyond marijuana legislation in the US states of Colorado and Washington, most Uruguayans oppose it.
No studies have been conducted to see if pharmacists would face security threats from selling pot, but most feel it's just not worth the risk.
Experts say delays in the marijuana initiative stem from the fact that no other country has attempted such an ambitious endeavor and that authorities still lack detailed plans and rules for regulating the market.
The planting of cannabis in Uruguay has begun and it's expected to be ready by late July, two government officials told The Associated Press.
They also asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorised by the government to comment.
The officials said that having only 50 pharmacies enrolled might work in the government's favour because the programme would be easier to control
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