{"id":2399956,"date":"2025-02-06T19:27:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T00:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colombian-president-claims-cocaine-is-no-worse-than-whiskey\/"},"modified":"2025-02-06T19:30:05","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T00:30:05","slug":"colombian-president-claims-cocaine-is-no-worse-than-whiskey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colombian-president-claims-cocaine-is-no-worse-than-whiskey\/","title":{"rendered":"Colombian president claims cocaine is &#8216;no worse than whiskey&#8217;-"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcolombian-president-claims-cocaine-is-no-worse-than-whiskey%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2399956&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Colombian President Gustavo\u2063 Petro recently sparked controversy during a goverment meeting by suggesting that cocaine \u2063should be legalized and likening it to alcohol, asserting \u2062it is indeed &#8220;no worse\u2064 than whiskey.&#8221; He argued that the\u2064 illegal status of cocaine stems from its production \u200din Latin \u2063America\u2063 rather\u2062 than its intrinsic harmfulness. petro maintained \u2063that scientific \u2062analyses support his claims,even\u2062 though he did not provide specific references.He <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">attributed global issues caused<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-ag-brnovich-calls-on-gov-ducey-to-take-three-actions-to-address-border-crisis\/\" title=\"Arizona AG Brnovich Calls On Gov. Ducey To Take Three Actions To Address Border Crisis\">illegal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">drug trafficking<\/a><\/a> to cocaine&#8217;s prohibition\u200c and posited that legalizing the drug could lead to a regulated market, similar to that of wine. The country is currently facing significant violence in the northeastern Catatumbo \u200bregion due \u2064to conflicts between criminal organizations \u2062involved in drug trafficking, amidst failing peace agreements and ongoing\u2064 humanitarian crises.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Colombian president claims cocaine is &lsquo;no worse than whiskey&rsquo; and should be &lsquo;sold like wine&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1980645\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colombia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Colombian head of state<\/a> exhorted the joys of cocaine use during a government meeting this week, downplaying its side effects and encouraging it to be legalized.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3304387\/colombia-president-loses-liberal-support-feud-trump-deportations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Colombian President Gustavo Petro<\/a> said during a government meeting on Wednesday that cocaine is only kept illegal around the world because of its origins in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/south-america\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">South America<\/a>, comparing it to alcohol. Colombia is the largest cocaine exporter in the world, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/world-news\/record-high-colombian-cocaine-production-in-2023-un-6823705\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"setting a new record in 2023\">setting a new record in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey,&rdquo; Petro told the gathered officials.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE &ndash; Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo\/Seth Wenig, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Scientists have analyzed this &mdash; cocaine is not worse than whiskey,&rdquo; he emphasized without providing specific citations.<\/p>\n<p>The Colombian leader blamed global turmoil caused by illegal drug trafficking on cocaine&rsquo;s continued restriction in the majority of countries around the globe.<\/p>\n<p>Rolling back these restrictions and implementing regulations on its sale would open a market for free and safe use, he argued &mdash; once again comparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/drugs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">cocaine<\/a> to alcohol.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It could be easily dismantled if they legalized cocaine in the world,&rdquo; Petro asserted. &ldquo;It would be sold like wine.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"8Np-c02qLt0\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Consejo de Ministros de Gobierno Gustavo Petro: as&iacute; se vivi&oacute; la tensa reuni&oacute;n | W Radio\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8Np-c02qLt0?start=11659&amp;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Colombia is experiencing an outbreak of widespread violence in the northeast region of Catatumbo, where two criminal organizations, engaged in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/drug-cartels\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/guatemalas-president-says-biden-is-letting-in-drugs-from-venezuela-to-negotiate-oil\/\" title=\"Guatemala&#039;s President Says Biden Is Letting in ...s From Venezuela to &quot;Negotiate Oil&quot;\">large-scale drug trafficking<\/a><\/a>, have engaged in a turf war.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The government has deployed soldiers and humanitarian aid to the region in an effort to quell the belligerence that has forced tens of thousands of inhabitants in the area to flee the region due to violence and unrest.<\/p>\n<p>The situation shows few signs of improving, with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-slams-biden-as-iran-backed-hamas-invades-israel-american-taxpayer-dollars-helped-fund-these-attacks\/\" title=\"Trump criticizes Biden as Iran-backed Hamas invades Israel: &#039;US taxpayer dollars funded these attacks&#039;.\">peace deal negotiated<\/a> last month almost immediately falling apart.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1980645\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1980645\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colombian president argues cocaine is &#8216;no worse than whiskey&#8217; and should be &#8216;sold like wine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2399957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AP25036017519219.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[11521,15918,36747,3669,8930],"class_list":["post-2399956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-cocaine","tag-colombia","tag-drug-policy","tag-president","tag-whiskey"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AP25036017519219.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2399956"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2399960,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2399956\/revisions\/2399960"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2399957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2399956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2399956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2399956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}