Uruguay made history in 2013 when it became the first country in the world to fully legalize recreational cannabis. But there has always been one major catch: tourists cannot buy it. Now, more than a decade later, that could finally change.
The Institute for the Regulation and Control of Cannabis (IRCCA), Uruguay's national cannabis regulatory body, is actively exploring ways to allow non-resident foreigners, including tourists, international students, and temporary workers, to legally purchase cannabis under controlled conditions.
IRCCA executive director Martin Rodriguez confirmed that the agency is analyzing regulatory modifications to make this possible. "We understand that it is necessary for foreigners visiting the country who do not have residency to have access to cannabis under safe and controlled conditions," Rodriguez stated.
How Uruguay's Cannabis System Works Today
Under the current framework established by Law 19.172, adult Uruguayan citizens and permanent residents have three legal pathways to access cannabis. They can grow up to six plants at home per household. They can join a cannabis social club, which are non-profit associations of 15 to 45 members that collectively cultivate up to 99 plants. Or they can purchase cannabis at authorized pharmacies, with a limit of 40 grams per month.
All three routes require registration with the IRCCA. There are currently around 50,000 registered users across all categories, and pharmacy sales hit a record 4,290 kilograms in 2025, a 34% increase from the previous year.
Four cannabis varieties are available through pharmacies: Alpha (indica, 9% THC, 3% CBD), Beta (sativa, 9% THC, 3% CBD), Gamma (indica, 15% THC, 1% CBD), and Epsilon (20% THC, 1% CBD). A five-gram package costs between 485 and 615 Uruguayan pesos, roughly equivalent to 13 to 17 euros, making it remarkably affordable compared to most European markets.
Why Now?
The reasoning behind the proposed change is straightforward: foreigners who visit Uruguay and want cannabis are already buying it, they just do so on the black market. By excluding tourists from the legal system, the regulation is inadvertently driving people toward unregulated and potentially unsafe products while keeping revenue out of the formal economy.
The IRCCA estimates that around 100,000 foreigners enter Uruguay each year with cannabis consumption as part of their plans. None of them can currently access the legal market. Global cannabis tourism is estimated to be worth approximately $17 billion annually, and Uruguay's share of that market is currently zero.
The idea is not entirely new. In 2021, a previous IRCCA director discussed allowing tourist access as an incentive for tourism and a source of additional revenue. However, the proposal never moved past the discussion stage. What has changed under the current administration of President Yamandu Orsi is the framing: this is now being presented primarily as a harm reduction measure rather than a revenue play.
What Could It Look Like?
Several models are being discussed. One option involves creating a temporary registration system for tourists that would expire when they leave the country. Another proposal would allow licensed tourism businesses, such as hotels and hostels, to partner with existing cannabis social clubs and offer short-term memberships to their guests.
The pharmacy producers, who currently supply cannabis under the strictest IRCCA controls, have argued that tourist sales should go through their distribution channels rather than through clubs or hotels, citing the higher level of quality control and product testing that their operations require.
Nothing has been finalized. The IRCCA and the new government will need to draft specific legislative language, negotiate parliamentary support, and determine the exact framework for non-resident access. But the direction is clear: Uruguay is moving toward opening its cannabis market to the world.
What This Means for the Global Cannabis Landscape
If Uruguay opens cannabis sales to tourists, it would become only the second country in the world (after Canada) where foreign visitors can legally purchase recreational cannabis through regulated retail channels. While the Netherlands tolerates cannabis sales to tourists through its coffeeshop system, cannabis technically remains illegal there under the tolerance policy.
For cannabis enthusiasts planning trips to South America, this development is worth watching closely. Uruguay already offers a unique cannabis culture built around home growing and social clubs rather than commercial retail. Adding tourist access could create an entirely new category of cannabis travel destination, one built on government regulation and harm reduction rather than commercial tourism.
In the meantime, if you are looking for legal cannabis access as a tourist, the Netherlands remains the most accessible destination with over 500 coffeeshops across 106 cities. Browse them all on cannabizzz.
