- Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said he’s against global drug policies banning cocaine. During a live ministerial meeting, he argued cocaine should be legalized like alcohol to combat trafficking.
- A United Nations report shows Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are the largest cocaine producers.
- Petro called for a focus on large-scale drug traffickers rather than small farmers who grow the coca plant for income.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro took a bold stance on global drug policy Thursday, Feb. 6, calling out countries that ban cocaine while allowing alcohol. Petro explained the ban only stems from Colombia’s position as the largest producer and exporter of the drug, not its danger.
Petro’s stance on cocaine legalization
During a ministerial meeting, Petro explained his resistance to banning cocaine and the coca plant, where the drug is manufactured. The president argued that legalizing the drug, similar to alcohol, could help dismantle the global trafficking network. He also compared cocaine use to fentanyl’s deadly impact in the U.S. Petro claimed fentanyl isn’t banned because it’s produced in North American labs, unlike cocaine, which is primarily cultivated in Latin America.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s 2023 report revealed the global cocaine market poses a worldwide threat, with significant users in North and South America and Europe. The report further noted Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are the largest suppliers of cocaine, with Colombia holding the biggest share of the coca plant.
Petro emphasized Colombia should focus its attention on large-scale drug traffickers and money launderers instead of targeting small farmers who rely on the coca plant for their livelihood.
