The Regulation Backyard: Home Growing Cannabis in Uruguay

Background: Uruguay was the first country in the world to explicitly authorize the personal cultivation of cannabis in 2013 within a comprehensive market regulation model. This policy development provides a unique opportunity to gauge the first impact of cannabis regulation on domestic cannabis growing and to have a more accurate picture of the characteristics of cannabis growers, a topic largely neglected by previous research in the country. Method: The Survey on Regulated Cannabis in Uruguay was conducted between October and December of 2017 to a random sample of the population between 15 and 65 years of age (n = 2,181). Using face-to-face interviews, the survey asked about the use of cannabis (forms, amounts, access, motivations, etc.) and other drugs, included a sociodemographic module, and a specific section on domestic cultivation (n = 213). The questions were formulated to ensure comparability with previous international surveys (ICCQ-GCCRC) conducted in 13 industrialized countries. Results: After regulation, the type of product consumed in Uruguay changed completely, with a significant increase in the preference for domestically grown cannabis. Most growers are experienced and frequent cannabis users. In the comparison with other countries, important similarities appear, as the quantity produced or the ages of growers, as well as relevant differences. While there is a predominance of men, a higher number of women got involved in growing after the law was adopted. Most cannabis is produced outdoors and with low costs per harvest. Conclusions: In a context of scarcity of legally sold cannabis, both registered and unregistered cannabis personal growing increased in Uruguay, though mostly through “experimental” attempts and motivations.