Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Uruguay law
Cannabis laws in Montevideo follow Uruguay’s national law. Local cities generally do not set separate marijuana rules, so penalties are determined at the jurisdiction level.
Recreational cannabis is legal for adults under a regulated system that includes home cultivation, cannabis clubs, and pharmacy sales. Medical cannabis is also legal. Non-residents may have limited access to legal purchase options, and legal risk can exist for public consumption or non-compliance with limits.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Legal
- Medical: Legal
- Possession: Legal within regulated limits
- Buying/Selling: Legal for registered residents
- Tourists: Restricted access to purchase
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative History
Uruguay became the first country to fully legalize recreational cannabis in 2013 through Law 19.172, establishing a regulated framework that includes home cultivation of up to six plants, membership in cannabis social clubs, and pharmacy sales for registered adult residents. Medical cannabis access was incorporated into the same system, with strict controls on production and distribution maintained by the state.
Law Enforcement
The local joke was that police used drugs themselves and might just take the stash. Uruguay has since introduced a regulated adult-use system, as covered in Marijuana Laws.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Beaches and parties were part of the scene, alongside a street crowd that could include somebody in a Ferrari, Porsche or even a Lamborghini. Spanish helped. In the colonial district of Ciudad Vieja, arts and crafts vendors set up along Peatonal Sarandí, where a conversation with the long-haired crowd could point you toward local smokers.
Marijuana Prices
- Through a good connection: US$15 for 50 g.
- ‘Un veinticinco’ (25 g, a little under an ounce): UYU 250–500, quoted then as about US$10–20.
- ‘Una palanca’ (enough for a joint): UYU 20, quoted then as about US$1.
- ‘Porro’ was a common local name, and better flower cost more.
Types of Marijuana
The account mentions five kinds without naming them. Supply was said to come from Paraguay or Brazil, pressed into one-kilo bricks. Quality varied with the season and was considered best from October to February.
More Information
Dude, this felt like the best place on earth.