Colombian President Suggests Cocaine Should Be Legalized Like Whisky

[Social Media]

 

Colombian President Gustavo Petro stirred controversy on Tuesday when he told his cabinet that cocaine is no worse than whisky. During the meeting, he argued that cocaine remains illegal primarily because it is produced in Latin America, while other substances that impact the United States, such as fentanyl, are not subjected to the same regulations.  

 

Petro then put forward a radical proposal to dismantle drug trafficking by legalizing cocaine. “It would be sold like wine,” he stated, suggesting a regulated market could curb the violence associated with the illegal drug trade.  

 

His comments come at a time when Colombia’s Catatumbo region, long plagued by armed conflict and drug trafficking, has been experiencing a surge in violence.

 

The government has accused the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels of launching a series of attacks against former members of the now-demobilized Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as well as civilian community leaders. The Catatumbo region remains a key hub for drug trafficking and organized crime, further complicating the country’s security challenges.

 

Based on a report by The Independent 2025-02-08

 

 

 

[Cryingdick]

I agree.

[The Old Bull]

It makes sense but he'll have lots of opposition. Fighting drugs is just as big a business as selling them. 

[harryviking]

That would make the cartels poor! It would also save a lot of lives. The problem is, I think, that huge sums of cash is finding its way into certain politicians pockets! That is why it would be hard to legalize it! 

[thesetat]

Sounds more like their leader sold himself out to the drug cartels so the violence will stop. Cocaine is not the same as alcohol. It is highly addictive and when using it causes your body to demand more. It reduce rationality to obtain it as well. Most criminal activity is done so the user can purchase more of the drug. 

 

[Jingthing]

It kind of makes sense for him to promote the local specialty. He's not as far off as it might sound. The original COCA COLA wasn't called COCA for nothing. In many ways regulation, legalization, and standardization would make things much safer for users. As it is now, you don't know what kind of literal garbage is cut into any street drugs or what the dose really is. and yes that can be very dangerous even fatal. 

 

 

[OneMoreFarang]

16 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Sounds more like their leader sold himself out to the drug cartels so the violence will stop. Cocaine is not the same as alcohol. It is highly addictive and when using it causes your body to demand more. It reduce rationality to obtain it as well. Most criminal activity is done so the user can purchase more of the drug. 

 

 

If it would be legal then it could be sold in high quality.

One of the problems with illegal drugs is that on the supply chain many people mix it with many other substances, some of them are poisonous. The end customers buy something is some kind of quality mixed with something else. No specifics. It seems that is a big part of the health problems of drugs. If people would use poor cocaine, then that problem would not exist.

 

And if it wasn't illegal then it would not have huge profit margins for criminals. And addicts wouldn't commit lot of crimes to make money to buy the drugs.

 

Is it a good solution to legalize these drugs? No. But listening to experts, like senior police, legalizing would probably be the best option.