Uruguay cannabis sales hit record and grow by one ton in 2025

Cannabis sales at licensed pharmacies in Uruguay hit a historic record. The volume sold exceeded previous years' records by one ton, marking a new milestone for the sector.

According to data from the Cannabis Regulation and Control Institute (IRCCA), disclosed by El País, the growth was mainly driven by high demand for the Epsilon variant. This is the most potent option currently available in the regulated market.

In total, registered users purchased 4,290 kilograms of the substance in the last year. This number surpasses the 2024 records, which totaled 3,207 kg, and 2023, with 3,254 kg.

Production follows cannabis sales

This volume of sales coincides with a record in national production. Cultivation is carried out by authorized companies on protected land in the Libertad region, in San José.

The harvest of the four available varieties (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Epsilon) totaled 4,658 kilograms in 2025. This is the highest volume ever produced since the start of the system in 2017. The figure significantly surpasses the historical average of 2,000 kilograms observed before 2022.

THC preference drives cannabis sales

The market dynamics were defined by the concentration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the plant's main psychoactive component. The Epsilon variant, which has a THC content of up to 20%, led the preference.

This variety alone represented 75% of total cannabis sales, with approximately 3,250 kilograms sold. According to local sources, stocks of this variety tend to sell out almost immediately after restocking on the shelves.

In contrast, the lower potency variants had reduced sales:

- Gamma (THC $\le$ 15%): 670 kg sold;
- Beta (THC $\le$ 9%): 210 kg sold;
- Alpha (THC $\le$ 9%): 160 kg sold.

IRCCA sources stated that production of the lighter variants will be maintained, even though they represent only 4% of the market. The goal is to cater to the segment of the public that prefers a less intense psychoactive effect.

Expansion of the network and consumer profile

Access infrastructure was also expanded to support cannabis sales. The number of authorized pharmacies increased from 40 to 55 establishments in 2025.

The units are distributed in 13 of the country's 19 departments. There is a higher concentration in the capital, Montevideo (21), followed by Canelones (9) and Maldonado (7).

The consumer registry followed an upward trend, ending the year with 83,567 registered users. This represents an increase of about 9,000 people compared to the previous year. The predominant demographic profile remained stable:

- Gender: 64% male.

- Age range: 53% between 26 and 50 years old; young adults (18-25) represent 16%, and those over 60 years old, 7%.

Clubs and home cultivation beyond cannabis sales

In addition to pharmacies, other legal access routes showed different behaviors. Member clubs saw growth in both the number of entities, rising from 460 to 557, and in associates.

There are a total of 19,589 participants in this modality. Production in this specific sector reached a record of 5,801 kilograms.

On the other hand, home cultivation showed an official decrease in registrations, totaling 10,392. However, IRCCA estimates that the actual number of active cultivators is around 13,000, considering the continuity of the activity after the registration expiration.

Inspection and context of cannabis sales consumption

The increase in cannabis activity and sales in the sector was accompanied by stricter oversight. In 2025, IRCCA conducted 1,798 inspections, the highest number in history.

These actions resulted in 92 sanctioning processes. Sanctions were mainly motivated by stock discrepancies and product traceability issues.

Regarding the impact on public health, the Uruguayan Drug Observatory (OUD) indicates that the regulated market now reaches 40% of consumers. 

Despite the increased access, 2024 data shows that consumption in the last 12 months slightly decreased to 12.3% of the population. This corresponds to about 227,000 people.

However, problematic use increased to 16.9%, the highest rate in the historical series. The organization emphasizes that the rise in cannabis sales in the legal market does not necessarily translate to an overall consumption increase, as it meets part of the demand from the black market.

With information from El Pais