Juan Andres Palese says he 's a frustrated entrepreneur . His business , the sale of products for growing and processing marijuana , has always been in a legal limbo in Uruguay , his country . Legally speaking , it 's a complicated and risky situation . Selling accessories for the cultivation of cannabis is legal , but the production , sale and distribution of marijuana are not . `` It would be fantastic , '' Palese says , `` if we could also have access to the market of consumers . '' The dream of the Montevideo resident is about to come true . The Uruguayan Senate is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a controversial bill that would make the small South American country the first in Latin America to legalize marijuana . The bill was approved by the lower house of parliament in July with 50 out of 96 votes . It also has the support of President Jose Mujica . The bill has generated international headlines because , if approved , the Uruguayan government would have the authority to regulate the production , distribution and sale of marijuana . The legislation also has the support of the Broad Front , Mujica 's party . Approval is widely expected . `` More than anything , it 's going to give me peace about growing what I like , which is marijuana . That 's what I like to consume . It would give me the peace of mind of not having legal troubles for something that should not be illegal , '' Palese says . The bill rests on the premise that if `` the state assumes the control and regulation of the activities of importation and exportation , sowing , growing , harvesting , producing ... storing , commercializing and distributing , '' then the ills of drug trafficking would be greatly reduced and the quality of the plants improved , benefiting patients and putting drug traffickers out of business . The bill would allow individuals to grow up to six plants of marijuana and possess as much as 480 grams for personal use . Marijuana clubs of anywhere from 15 to 45 members would also be allowed and granted permission to grow up to 99 plants at a time . Users would have to register , and those claiming to use cannabis for medical reasons would have to show a doctor 's prescription . Marijuana would also be sold at licensed pharmacies . But many in the traditionally Catholic country of 3.3 million people feel legislators are espousing the wrong policy for the wrong reasons . Alfredo Solari , an opposition senator from the Colorado Party , says making marijuana widely available has the potential to create even higher levels of addiction . `` It 's a very bad piece of legislation , mainly because it increases the availability of marijuana in the market . There will be a legal market that can be accessed by most Uruguayans . But there will also be a parallel illegal market for all of those who ca n't get marijuana legally , '' Solari said . Proponents of the bill say the legislation addresses some of the concerns expressed by the opposition . For one , violators of the law would face sentences of 20 months to 10 years in prison . Those younger than 18 would not be allowed to use marijuana under any circumstances . The legislation also calls for mandatory classes in public schools aimed at drug prevention , and advertising of cannabis in any form would be strictly forbidden . Luis Gallo , a senator with the Broad Front Party , which supports the bill , said current drug policy , which rests solely on law enforcement and prohibition , has produced no results . `` This is about regulating drugs . It 's does n't mean that it 's a free-for-all , but it does n't mean prohibition either . It means regulation has to work to reduce the risks and harmful effects of drug consumption , '' Gallo said . In an interview with CNN en Espanol , Mujica suggested in September that when it comes to drug trafficking , the trafficking part is usually more harmful than the drug itself , especially when it comes to marijuana . `` We would like to identify those who consume ( marijuana ) , take them out of the shadows and offer to them a regulated opportunity to consume ( the drug ) so that they do n't have to depend on drug traffickers . We want to take away the market from drug traffickers by competing with them , '' Mujica said . Supporters of the bill launched a national campaign called `` Responsible Regulation . '' The campaign produced public service announcements in which a doctor , a mother and an attorney suggest it makes sense for Uruguayans to support the law . Once the bill gains approval , there will be a 120-day period to give the government time to adopt regulations to implement the law .
Bill to legalize pot widely expected to pass in Tuesday vote . It would give Uruguayan government authority to regulate production and distribution . Supporters say it will put drug traffickers out of business . Opponents argue that legalization could lead to increased use, especially among young people who are more likely than others to experiment with marijuana.