Uruguay to sell marijuana to reduce crime

Uruguay's government plans to take a step beyond legalizing marijuana. It wants to sell it.

Local news media and lawmakers report that the government plans to send a bill to Congress on Wednesday that would legalize marijuana sales as a crime-fighting measure. Only the government would be allowed to sell the joints, and only to adults registered as users.

Those who exceed a limited number of joints allowed would have to undergo drug rehabilitation.

The idea is to remove profits from drug dealers and divert users from harder drugs. There are no laws against marijuana use itself in Uruguay.

Ruling party Senator Monica Xavier tells local TV that if the measure passes, it should be accompanied by efforts to get people off drugs.