Uruguay considers opening legal cannabis sales to non-resident consumers

Move could expand market beyond domestic population as country seeks to capitalize on established regulatory framework.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

Uruguay is exploring the possibility of selling legal cannabis to non-residents, according to the International Cannabis Business Conference. The proposal represents a potential expansion of the country's regulatory model, which has already reduced illicit market share to 6.7% as of April 2026 and shifted consumer behavior toward licensed channels.

The move comes as Uruguay's legal cannabis system faces internal constraints. Despite medical cannabis regulation over a decade ago, the market remains underfulfilled, and recent price increases have coincided with gray-market pressures. Opening sales to tourists and international visitors could provide revenue diversification without requiring domestic demand expansion.

Watch whether legislative action follows this discussion, and how neighboring countries—already navigating cannabis tourism dynamics—respond to potential cross-border shopping flows.