Cocaine ‘no worse than whiskey’ and should be legal – says man likely to get rich from it
Cocaine ‘no worse than whiskey’ and should be legal – says man likely to get rich from it
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To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video. Up Next. Cocaine ‘is no worse than whiskey’ – these are the words of Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro. He said during a live broadcast of a government meeting that the drug is only illegal because it comes from Latin America. The president said: ‘Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey.
‘Scientists have analysed this. Cocaine is no worse than whiskey. ‘If you want peace, you have to dismantle the business (of drug trafficking). ‘It could easily be dismantled if they legalise cocaine in the world. It would be sold like wine.’. Petro also referred to the fentanyl crisis that has gripped the US that is not made in Colombia. He added: ‘Fentanyl was created as a pharmacy drug by North American multinationals and those who consumed it became addicted.’.
Colombia is the top coca producer in the world – producing 60% of the world’s cocaine – followed by other South American nations including Peru and Bolivia. An annual UN report said that Colombia’s cocaine production reached a record high and that production had risen by 21% since 2021, despite the country spending decades trying to tackle the blight. Frank offers confidential advice about drugs and addiction (email frank@talktofrank.com, message 82111 or call 0300 123 6600) or the NHS has information about getting help.
Adfam has local groups for families affected by drugs and alcohol and DrugFam offers phone and email support to people affected by other people's drug or alcohol misuse. The country’s largest exports are to the United States and Europe. Petro has tried to make peace with the armed groups responsible for the increase in a bid to end conflict. Cocaine affects people differently but most people report these symptoms when taking it, according to Frank.
It takes about 5 to 10 minutes for cocaine to kick in and the effects last for 30 to 40 minutes on average. Some of the common risks of taking cocaine include a panic attack, heart attack and/or stroke if somebody takes too much cocaine. Regular use can make you feel depressed and run down. The country is still haunted in many ways by the ‘King of Cocaine’, Pablo Escobar. He founded the notorious Medellín Cartel, which distributed powder cocaine, and established the first smuggling routes from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador, through Colombia and eventually into the US.
But he was also seen as a ‘Robin Hood’ type figure for helping locals with community projects such as the construction of houses and football fields. Escobar was eventually killed in his hometown by police a day after his 44th birthday. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Tennis player Goncalo Oliveira issues statement over suspension for positive meth test.
Arrow MORE: Man who got high and said he could dodge a bullet dies from gunshot wound. Arrow MORE: Drill rapper arrested during Instagram livestream jailed for supplying cannabis. Never miss the biggest stories with breaking news alerts in your inbox. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy.
