Colombian president says cocaine ‘not worse than whisky’

President Gustavo Petro

|Published 8:00 PM ET, Saturday February 8, 2025|

Bogotá: Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently asserted that “cocaine is no worse than whisky” and suggested that its illegality stems from its Latin American origin rather than its effects. He proposed that global legalization could dismantle the illicit drug trade, allowing cocaine to be “sold like wine.”

These remarks coincide with a significant increase in coca cultivation in Colombia. In 2023, the area dedicated to coca farming expanded by 10% to 253,000 hectares, leading to a 53% rise in potential cocaine production, now estimated at 2,644 metric tons.

President Petro’s comments have sparked international debate, especially considering Colombia’s role as the world’s leading cocaine producer and the ongoing global challenges associated with drug trafficking and consumption.