[EDMTunes] Colombian President Says Cocaine is No Worse Than Whiskey

During a televised cabinet meeting on February 5, 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro made a bold statement regarding the global war on drugs. He claims that cocaine is “no worse than whiskey” and should be legalized. Also, Petro argued that the criminalization of cocaine was rooted in geopolitical factors. He stated:

“Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey.”

Petro’s Arguments and Comparison to Fentanyl

Petro’s comments highlighted the disparities in global drug policies. In detail, where drugs made in Latin America face stricter laws than substances like fentanyl. Which is linked to numerous deaths in the United States and is not criminalized. This seems unfair to Petro because it is produced by North American pharmaceutical companies. “Scientists have analyzed this: cocaine is not worse than whiskey,” said Petro, asserting that the war on drugs, led by countries like the U.S., has contributed to widespread violence in Latin America due to the push for aggressive crackdowns on traffickers.

Steps Taken in Colombia’s Drug Policy

In line with his calls for legalization, Petro’s government in 2023 repealed a decree allowing police to confiscate small amounts of drugs from users in public. This decriminalizes personal drug use in Colombia. He defended the move on social media and stated:

“If the constitution permits personal drug use, police should focus on drug lords, not small-time users.”

Petro’s government has also advocated for an end to the “drug prohibition regime,” suggesting that the failure of the war on drugs has made it clear that legal reform is needed to reduce violence and crime linked to the illegal drug trade.

Petro’s Call for Global Drug Legalization

Since his election in 2022, President Petro has remained firm in his stance on drug legalization. He views the failure of the war on drugs as a major factor contributing to ongoing violence and instability in Latin America. Also, continues to push for global changes in drug policy, particularly about the illegal status of substances like cocaine. He believes it is unjustly criminalized due to its Latin American origins.

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