Colombian President Gustavo Petro sparked international controversy on Tuesday by claiming that cocaine is “no worse than whiskey” and that it is only illegal in other countries because it comes from Latin America.
Speaking during Colombia’s first live-broadcast cabinet roundtable, Petro called for the addictive substance to be legalized worldwide, saying this would be the most effective way to destroy the power of drug cartels.
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“Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey,” Petro declared. “Scientists have analyzed this. Cocaine is no worse than whiskey.”
He went on to argue that legalizing cocaine globally could dismantle the drug trade, which could lead to a decrease in violence associated with drug trafficking.
“If you want peace, you have to dismantle the [drug trafficking] business,” he said. “It could easily be dismantled if they legalize cocaine in the world. It would be sold like wine.”
Petro also criticized US politicians for scapegoating cocaine while ignoring what he sees as the more pressing drug issue of fentanyl, which is responsible for a significant number of deaths in the US and is not produced in Colombia.
“Fentanyl was created as a pharmacy drug by North American multinationals,” he said, adding that those who consumed it “became addicted.”
His comments come as Colombia faces diplomatic tensions with the US, particularly regarding immigration policies and trade relations. Last month, Petro’s administration narrowly averted a 24% tariff from the United States after Petro blocked US military flights attempting to repatriate Colombian nationals.
At the same time, the United Nations reported a significant increase in cocaine production in Colombia, reaching 2,600 tons in 2023, a 53% rise from the previous year.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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