Thu Feb 06 09:07:17 UTC 2025: ## Colombian President Claims Cocaine is No Worse Than Whisky, Advocates for Legalization
**Bogota, Colombia** – Colombian President Gustavo Petro sparked international controversy during a live-streamed government meeting by claiming that cocaine’s illegality stems from its Latin American origins, not inherent harm. He asserted that the drug is no more dangerous than whisky, a claim he attributed to scientific analysis. This statement comes as Colombia, the world’s leading cocaine producer, grapples with record-high cocaine production reaching 2,600 tons in 2023 – a 53% increase, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
Petro argued that global legalization would effectively dismantle the powerful drug trafficking industry, comparing a potential future where cocaine is sold like wine. He contrasted this with the devastating opioid crisis in the United States, fueled by fentanyl – a drug he noted was manufactured by North American companies. The President highlighted the irony of fentanyl causing approximately 75,000 deaths annually in the US, while Colombian-produced cocaine is deemed more problematic.
Petro’s comments, made during a six-hour ministerial meeting, are consistent with his broader peace strategy. Since assuming office in 2022, he has prioritized peace negotiations with armed groups involved in drug trafficking, aiming to end Colombia’s six-decade-long conflict. However, his controversial stance on cocaine legalization is likely to ignite heated debate both domestically and internationally, raising questions about the feasibility and implications of such a radical policy shift.
First Piper 