Drug policy must change in U.S., Europe -Uruguay president

By Malena Castaldi and Felipe Llambias MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – The United States and Europe need a new strategy in the war on drugs and should look at alternatives such as the regulated sale of marijuana, says Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, whose country recently legalized the production and sale of cannabis. "For a small country, it's possible to experiment with this, but it's also very possible for a developed country because of the resources it has." In December, Uruguay's parliament approved a bill to legalize and regulate the sale and production of marijuana. Until things change there, it will be very difficult to change elsewhere," said Mujica from his home on the outskirts of Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, where he lives in a simple cottage with his wife and dogs. Mujica pointed to changing laws in other places, including those of U.S. states that have taken steps to decriminalize and even legalize marijuana use, as evidence of an "undeniable evolution" in attitudes.