During a government meeting, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stirred controversy by claiming that cocaine is “not worse than whiskey” and that its criminalization is rooted in its Latin American origin, not its danger.
As the world’s top producer of cocaine, Colombia has long battled drug trafficking, but Petro argued that American politicians scapegoat the drug in their ongoing war on drugs.
“Cocaine is illegal because it’s made in Latin America, not because it’s worse than whiskey,” Petro said, citing scientific analysis. He suggested that if cocaine were legalized globally, the entire drug trade could be dismantled, much like how wine is sold legally.
Petro contrasted this with fentanyl, the opioid driving the crisis in the U.S. “Fentanyl is killing Americans, but it’s not made in Colombia,” he pointed out, stressing that it was created by U.S. pharmaceutical companies, leading to widespread addiction.
Petro’s comments reflect his ongoing tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, which began after Colombia initially blocked American planes carrying returning migrants. The Trump administration threatened tariffs on Colombian exports, forcing Bogotá to accept the migrants without delay.
In 2023, Colombia’s cocaine production soared by 53%, reaching a record 2,600 tons, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
