Colombian President Gustavo Petro caused a stir during a live government meeting, claiming that cocaine is “no worse than whiskey” and only illegal because it is produced in Latin America. Petro, who took office in 2022, suggested that the global cocaine trade could be dismantled if the drug were legalized worldwide.
Speaking at a six-hour ministerial session, Petro stated, “Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey.” His comments align with his efforts to reform Colombia’s drug policy and end the country’s long-standing conflict with armed groups involved in narcotics trafficking.
Also Read: Brazilian Woman Caught at Karachi Airport for Attempting to Smuggle Cocaine
As the world’s largest producer of cocaine, Colombia saw production surge by 53% to a record 2,600 tons in 2023, according to U.N. reports. Petro argued that legalizing cocaine could disrupt the global drug trade, claiming it would be sold like wine in a legal market.
The president also criticized fentanyl, an opioid linked to around 75,000 deaths annually in the US, highlighting that it was developed by North American pharmaceutical companies. Petro emphasized his goal of achieving peace by targeting the profits of drug trafficking, but acknowledged the ongoing challenges as violence and instability linked to cocaine production persist in Colombia.
