Uruguay MP's back legalization of marijuana

Members of Uruguay's House of Representatives have passed a bill to legalize marijuana. If the bill goes on to be approved by the Senate, Uruguay will become the first country to regulate the production, distribution and sale of the drug. The measure is backed by the government of President Jose Mujica, who says it will remove profits from drug dealers and divert users from harder drugs. The bill, under which only the government will be allowed to sell marijuana,  was approved by 50 of the 96 MP's in the lower house following a 13-hour debate on the topic in the capital Montevideo. Under the policy, buyers would have to be registered on a database and be over the age of 18. Foreigners would be excluded from the scheme. Supporters of the measure say that the fight against drugs and drug trafficking had failed, and the country needed "new alternatives". However, those opposed to the bill disagree that the new bill would work, saying: "in no country in the World has the consumption of drugs been reduced through legislation".