The Colombian head of state exhorted the joys of cocaine use during a government meeting this week, downplaying its side effects and encouraging it to be legalized. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said during a government meeting on Wednesday that cocaine is only kept illegal around the world because of its origins in South America,

During a six-hour government meeting that was broadcast live, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said legalised cocaine could be "sold like wine".View on euronews

In a first-of-its-kind, six-hour live broadcast ministerial meeting in the South American country, Colombian President Gustavo Petro argued that cocaine is only illegal because of global politics — further claiming that it can be consumed as casually as alcohol, according to a report.

Legalizing cocaine could help dismantle drug trafficking, says Colombia's Petro:: 4, 2025:: Bogota, Colombia:: Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia"Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America,

Colombia's president is calling for the legalization of his country's most notorious export, arguing that cocaine isn't worse than whiskey. "Cocaine is illegal because it is made in Latin America, not because it is worse than whiskey,

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has sparked controversy during a heated live-broadcast cabinet meeting by claiming cocaine's illegal status stems from Latin American prejudice rather than science-based health concerns.