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Mary Jane Says High

Posted on April 5, 2007
Filed Under Crime, Culture, Vocabulary | 5 Comments

Uruguay has an unusual position regarding marijuana: smoking it is not a crime, but buying, selling and growing is. The current law states that if an individual is caught with an amount deemed for personal consumption it is considered a fault, not a crime. The law is vague and leaves it to a judge to decide about the quantity, taking into consideration intent and the moral rectitude of the individual. If a person is found to be at fault, they must attend an anti-drug class or other such activity. Of course, in order to get called before a judge, one needs to get caught first.

Now that the socialist government is in power, several groups, such as the former president Jorge Batlle are pushing for the outright legalizion of marijuana, or at least to rule on the amount that constitutes personal consumption. Last November, there was a smoke-in in the Plaza Independencia area to protest the current legislation. As the police avoided the demonstration, no arrests were made. By the way, next Friday, April 13th 2007, there will be a Fiesta de la Marihuana near the Mercado del Puerto.

Some marijuana activists think that it is far more achievable to ask for the decriminalization of growing pot for personal use. Others argue that it is best to leave the law as it is, given the traditional liberal view of the Uruguayan Judicial system regarding this issue. They contend that in practice it is more lenient than the likely future amount. This article from El Pais, posted at a government site, the Junta Nacional de Drogas, illustrates the view of its Secretary who thinks that throwing a person in jail for possession of marijuana is a barbarous act.

While on vacation in Montevideo, I saw pot being smoked openly in highly visible areas on three occasions. I also smelled it a few other times. I did not get the impression people were hiding it or afraid of the police.

The Uruguayan pot is usually smuggled in from Paraguay, which shares a river connection to the Rio de la Plata. The Paraguayan pot is among the most potent in the world. According to this article, until recently, the cost of pot in Uruguay was about half of that of North America. Brazilian pot also finds its way into Uruguay, but apparently is not as prized as the Paraguayan stuff.

There is a growing concern that crack cocaine and meth are beginning to gain popularity in Uruguay, since they are much more profitable for dealers and far more addictive. Some of the marijuana activists are using this as one more argument in the legalization battle, as a “safe” alternative to those drugs. Of course, the issue has its detractors and has ramifications beyond its borders. Brazil and Argentina have much stronger laws regarding possession and will certainly pressure Uruguay into not becoming the Amsterdam of Latin America.

Vocabulary taken from Uruguayan web sites:

A cuanto se esta moviendo 25 gramos? - How much is 25 grams going for?
Armador - Device for rolling a joint
Careta - A person that does not smoke pot
Desmorrugar - To separate the weed so it can be rolled.
Estar loco or re loco - To be high
Faso - Pot
Fisurar - To need it badly
Fósforos - Matches
Fumar mota - To smoke pot
Fumeta - Person that smokes pot
Hojillas - Paper for rolling a joint
Lokura or locura - The high
Mangos - One of the many slang terms for Pesos
Marihuana - Marijuana (note there’s no j in Spanish version of the word)
Maruja - Marijuana
Mota - Pot
Mucha guita - A lot of money
Pipa - Pipe
Pirar - To trip
Porro - Joint, but also weed, pot
Quemar uno - To light up a joint
Seda - Paper for rolling a joint.
Un fino - A skinny joint
Un seco - A hit or a toke
Yesquero - Lighter

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• Things I Find Puzzling About Uruguay
• Personal Account of a Bribery in Uruguay
• Telenovelas in Latin America
• Learning Spanish Through Uruguayan Radio
• Family Structure in Uruguay
• Beach Customs in Uruguay
• A Dispassionate View of Punta del Este
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• Uruguayan Mate Custom
• Types of Cheeses Made in Uruguay
• Things to Consider Before Hiring Household Help
• Uruguayan Knife Sharpener
• Observations on Pricing in Uruguay
• Uruguayan Banking Vocabulary
• Banners Commonly Seen in the Streets of Montevideo

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