The 74-year-old cancer specialist, Tabare Vasquez, is back as president of the South American nation of Uruguay. With counting of the votes almost 100 percent complete on Sunday, Vasquez got 53 percent of the ballots, while his opponent, Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou, got 41 percent.

With his poll victory, it would mean that Vasquez - who was president from 2005 to 2010 - would be able to continue the policies by outgoing President Jose Mujica under whose term approved the marijuana law in 2013 and legalized same-sex marriages.

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Pou had promised to repeal the laws that Mujica approved, particularly the government taking charge of overseeing the production and sale of cannabis across the nation. The 41-year-old Pou conceded his loss and wished Vasquez success.

In pushing for state control of the marijuana trade, Mujica said that the U.S.-led battle against illegal drugs is a failure and a new way to fight drugs and trafficking of narcotics was needed.

In his victory speech, Vasquez said, quoted by USA Today, "I want to be able to count on all Uruguayans, but not so much that they follow me but so that they guide me, accompany me."

Since Vasquez is an oncologist, political analysts doubt he would really be a strong supporter of weed consumption, but because of the popular and strong support for the law, he would not likely push for its repeal, said Ignacio Zuasnabar, director of public opinion at Equipos, a survey firm, reports Wall Street Journal.

The 79-year-old Mujica will join the Senate when he steps down as president on March 1. Vasquez is viewed by Uruguayan voters as continuing the policies of Mujica, not drastically changing them since the two men are members of the Broad Front coalition.

Vasquez's poll victory is seen as a fruit of Mujica's popularity and the strong Uruguayan economy.

Tagsuruguay, tabare vasquez, marijuana