Colombian rocker Juanes has thrown his support behind a controversial new bill in Uruguay pushing for the legalisation of marijuana.
The star insists Uruguayan President Jose Mujica's efforts to downgrade the drug should be applauded because it will be one less illegal substance criminals can make big money from.
He says, "President Mujica's initiative seems to me to be very important for reducing the high levels of violence that are behind drug trafficking... (Drug consumption) is a public health matter and you mustn't send an addict, or an alcoholic or someone who consumes three packs of cigarettes to prison... I applaud Mujica's initiative."
The proposed bill is expected to be approved in the country's Congress this week (begs06Aug12).