Colombian President Gustavo Petro has stated that “cocaine is no worse than whiskey,” proposing that the global cocaine market could be “easily dismantled” through worldwide legalization of the drug.
As the leading producer and exporter of cocaine, primarily to the United States and Europe, Colombia has invested decades in combating drug trafficking.
“The illegality of cocaine stems from its production in Latin America, not from any inherent danger compared to whiskey,” the president remarked during a six-hour ministerial meeting that was streamed live on Tuesday.
“Research has supported this view,” he asserted.
Since taking office in 2022, the leftist leader has committed to addressing drug trafficking and regulating the use of illicit substances. However, under his administration, cocaine production in Colombia has escalated.
In 2023, coca leaf cultivation in Colombia rose by 10% compared to the previous year, with potential cocaine production reaching an unprecedented level of over 2,600 metric tons, marking a 53% increase, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in October.
During the meeting, Petro proposed the legalization of cocaine, similar to alcohol, as a strategy to address drug trafficking issues.
“To achieve peace, it is essential to dismantle the drug trafficking industry,” he stated. “This could be effectively accomplished if cocaine were legalized globally, allowing it to be sold like wine.”
He also pointed out the issue of fentanyl, a synthetic drug central to the opioid crisis in the United States, emphasizing that “it is responsible for American deaths, yet it is not produced in Colombia.”
“Fentanyl was developed as a pharmaceutical by North American corporations,” he noted, adding that those who used it “became dependent.”
These remarks followed a diplomatic conflict with President Donald Trump, who had blocked the arrival of two US military flights carrying deported migrants, accusing the US of treating Colombian migrants as criminals.
Subsequently, Colombia agreed to accept the deportees and sent its own aircraft to facilitate their return, following a series of threats that included significant tariffs, a travel ban for Colombian citizens, and the revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the United States.
Colombia has established itself as a key non-NATO ally of the United States, maintaining a close partnership in South America for several decades, particularly in collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Read more Fentanyl-related deaths are more common in Canada than the U.S.
According to the United Nations, cocaine ranks as the fourth most widely consumed drug worldwide and remains illegal in the majority of countries. Nevertheless, some nations have opted to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of the substance.
The use of cocaine can lead to significant medical issues, including cocaine use disorder, characterized by compulsive consumption of this addictive stimulant, as well as the risk of overdose, as noted by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse. The presence of synthetic opioids like fentanyl in cocaine has further exacerbated the increase in overdose fatalities, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Additionally, the NIH cautions that alcohol consumption can result in injuries, violence, and alcohol poisoning or overdose, with long-term excessive use linked to serious health conditions such as liver disease and cancer.
