Colombian President Claims Cocaine is No More Harmful Than Whiskey
Gustavo Petro claims that the only reason cocaine is illegal is due to its production in Latin America. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has asserted that the illegality of cocaine is primarily due to its Latin American origins, rather than the substance itself being harmful. He made these statements amidst ongoing tensions with the Trump administration concerning deportation policies and potential trade tariffs.
Colombia has a well-established reputation for cocaine production, with a substantial portion of the global cocaine supply traced back to the country. The drug is derived from the coca plant, indigenous to Latin America.
“Cocaine is illegal not because it’s worse than whiskey, but because it’s produced in Latin America,” Petro stated during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He likely chose whiskey for this comparison since the US is a significant producer and exporter of the beverage.
Petro further suggested that the “business” generated by drug trafficking organizations could be “easily dismantled if cocaine were to be legalized around the world.” He proposed that it could be sold similarly to wine, arguing that the resulting profits could be allocated to efforts preventing underage use.
Cocaine, recognized as a potent stimulant, is known to cause addiction and various health problems. It remains illegal for recreational use globally, while excessive alcohol consumption also poses substantial addiction and health risks.
Petro’s comments reflect his broader critique of US policies, which he views as oppressive towards Latin America and detrimental to the region's economic standing. Last month, he described Trump and other American leaders as “slaveholders” who regard Colombians as an “inferior race.”
Tensions spiked when Trump initiated the deportation of Colombian migrants and threatened Colombia with significant tariffs unless the country complied with his demands. Petro initially resisted the acceptance of deportees but ultimately relented when faced with Trump's threat of imposing a 25% emergency tariff on all Colombian goods entering the US, along with potential sanctions on officials.
The US remains Colombia's largest trading partner, with around $12 billion worth of Colombian products entering the US market annually.
Trump has linked migration to drug-related crime, a claim Petro contests. According to the Colombian leader, the actual issue in the US is the synthetic opioid fentanyl, not cocaine.
Fentanyl was initially developed for severe pain management and is found to be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The illicit production of fentanyl has flooded the US drug market, contributing to a surge in opioid-related deaths.
Trump has predominantly attributed the fentanyl crisis to external sources, particularly China, Mexico, and Canada, and has responded by imposing tariffs on imports from these nations. However, tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been delayed until March, following agreements to bolster border patrols.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
Colombia has a well-established reputation for cocaine production, with a substantial portion of the global cocaine supply traced back to the country. The drug is derived from the coca plant, indigenous to Latin America.
“Cocaine is illegal not because it’s worse than whiskey, but because it’s produced in Latin America,” Petro stated during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. He likely chose whiskey for this comparison since the US is a significant producer and exporter of the beverage.
Petro further suggested that the “business” generated by drug trafficking organizations could be “easily dismantled if cocaine were to be legalized around the world.” He proposed that it could be sold similarly to wine, arguing that the resulting profits could be allocated to efforts preventing underage use.
Cocaine, recognized as a potent stimulant, is known to cause addiction and various health problems. It remains illegal for recreational use globally, while excessive alcohol consumption also poses substantial addiction and health risks.
Petro’s comments reflect his broader critique of US policies, which he views as oppressive towards Latin America and detrimental to the region's economic standing. Last month, he described Trump and other American leaders as “slaveholders” who regard Colombians as an “inferior race.”
Tensions spiked when Trump initiated the deportation of Colombian migrants and threatened Colombia with significant tariffs unless the country complied with his demands. Petro initially resisted the acceptance of deportees but ultimately relented when faced with Trump's threat of imposing a 25% emergency tariff on all Colombian goods entering the US, along with potential sanctions on officials.
The US remains Colombia's largest trading partner, with around $12 billion worth of Colombian products entering the US market annually.
Trump has linked migration to drug-related crime, a claim Petro contests. According to the Colombian leader, the actual issue in the US is the synthetic opioid fentanyl, not cocaine.
Fentanyl was initially developed for severe pain management and is found to be 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The illicit production of fentanyl has flooded the US drug market, contributing to a surge in opioid-related deaths.
Trump has predominantly attributed the fentanyl crisis to external sources, particularly China, Mexico, and Canada, and has responded by imposing tariffs on imports from these nations. However, tariffs on Mexico and Canada have been delayed until March, following agreements to bolster border patrols.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
