First President To Legalize Cannabis Has Died: Honoring Uruguay’s Pepe Mujica’s Legacy
José “Pepe” Mujica, former president of Uruguay and one of the world’s most respected progressive leaders, passed away at 89.
Known globally for his humility, straight talk and devotion to public service, Mujica is perhaps most widely remembered for his role in making Uruguay the first country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis.
A Historic First
In 2013, while serving as president, Mujica led Uruguay through the passage of a groundbreaking cannabis regulation law, transforming marijuana from a criminalized substance into a state-regulated market.
The move wasn’t designed for commercial gain or global recognition. Mujica framed it instead as a pragmatic response to drug trafficking, arguing that the real solution was to undercut illegal markets. As he put it in 2012: “We believe we’re spoiling the market for drug traffickers because the real problem is drug trafficking, not marijuana.”
More than a decade later, Uruguay remains a model for cannabis policy reform around the world. Mujica’s leadership continues to influence global …