Comparison to Fentanyl Crisis in the U.S.

 

### **Colombian President: "Cocaine is No Worse Than Whiskey"**  

**February 6, 2025 – Bogotá, Colombia**  

Colombian President **Gustavo Petro** has sparked controversy by stating that **cocaine is no worse than whiskey** and is only illegal because it originates in **Latin America**. The statement was made during a **six-hour government meeting**, which was broadcast live for the first time.  

#### **Petro’s Argument on Drug Legalization**  

During the meeting, **President Petro**, a leftist leader, argued that the **global cocaine industry could be dismantled** if the drug were **legalized worldwide**.  

> **"Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey,"** Petro stated.  

> **"Scientists have analyzed this, and they found that cocaine is not worse than whiskey. If the world legalized cocaine, it would be sold just like wine."**  

Colombia remains the **largest producer and exporter of cocaine**, supplying **the United States and Europe**. For decades, the country has **fought drug trafficking** while dealing with **armed groups fueled by the cocaine trade**.  

Comparison to Fentanyl Crisis in the U.S.  

Petro also addressed the **opioid crisis in the United States**, highlighting the role of **fentanyl**, a synthetic drug responsible for **around 75,000 deaths annually** in the U.S.  

> **"Fentanyl kills Americans, and it is not made in Colombia,"** Petro said.  

> **"It was developed as a pharmaceutical drug by multinational companies in North America, and those who took it became addicted."**  

#### **Colombia’s Drug Production at Record Levels**  

Despite Petro’s push for **drug policy reform**, cocaine production in **Colombia hit a record high in 2023**, increasing **by 53% to 2,600 tons**, according to the **United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)**.  

Since taking office in **2022**, Petro has pursued a **peace strategy** aimed at negotiating with **armed groups linked to drug trafficking** in hopes of ending **six decades of internal conflict**.  

However, his **stance on drug legalization** is likely to face **strong opposition** both **domestically** and **internationally**, particularly from **the U.S. and European governments**, which continue to fund **anti-narcotics efforts in Colombia**.  

---  

### **#GustavoPetro #Colombia #Cocaine #DrugLegalization #WhiskeyVsCocaine #LatinAmerica #DrugWar #FentanylCrisis #USColombiaRelations #GlobalDrugPolicy**