Colombian president: cocaine is no worse than whiskey
Colombian president: cocaine is no worse than whiskey
cocaine production in Colombia
Colombia is the worldwide largest producer and exporter from Cocaine, mainly to the United States and Europe. The Colombian government fought against drug trafficking for decades.
petros controversial statements
"cocaine is illegal because it is manufactured in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey," said the president on Tuesday during a six -hour minister conference that was broadcast live. "Scientists analyzed this," he said.
increasing cocaine production
The left -wing politician who took over in 2022 promised to combat drug trafficking and regulate the use of illegal substances. However, cocaine production in Colombia has increased since taking office. The cultivation of coca leaves in Colombia increased by 10 % compared to the previous year, while potential cocaine production reached a record high of over 2,600 tons - an increase of 53 %, according to the United Nations office for drugs and crimes in October.
legalization as a possible solution
In his statements during the session, Petro proposed to legalize cocaine similar to alcohol in order to counteract drug trafficking. "If you want peace, you have to reduce the business (drug trade)," he emphasized. "It could easily be broken down if cocaine is legalized worldwide. It would be sold like wine."criticism of synthetic drugs
Petro emphasized Fentanyl, a synthetic drug in the center of the opioid crisis in the USA. "Fentanyl kills Americans, but it is not made in Colombia," he said. "Fentanyl was developed as a drug by North American multinational and the users were dependent on it."
diplomatic tensions with the USA
his statements are made almost two weeks after a Diplomatic conflict who blocked the landing of two US military flights with deported migrants and accused the USA to treat Colombian migrants such as criminals. Colombia later agreed to record the deported and used his own planes to help with their return. This happened after a Flood of threats, among other things, a ban Citizens and the revocation of Visa for Colombian officials in the United States.
The role of Colombia in drug policy
Colombia is an important non-Nato partner of the United States and has been the closest ally in South America for decades, especially in collaboration to combat drug trafficking. According to the United Nations, cocaine is the fourth -four drug worldwide and illegal in most countries. However, some governments have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of the drug.
health risks and medical complications
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Nida), serious medical complications can occur when using cocaine, including the development of cocaine addiction and overdose. The contamination of the drug with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl also contributed to an increase in overdose deaths. The NIDA also warns that alcohol consumption can lead to injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning or overdose, with side effects such as liver damage and cancer with excessive consumption.