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,

This commentary blew right through some lines. Cocaine is no worse for your health than the common glass of whiskey, claimed the president of Colombia — the world’s biggest producer and

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

Cocaine "is no worse than whisky" and is only illegal because it comes from Latin America, said Colombian President Gustavo Petro during a live broadcast of a government meeting.

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.

Gustavo Petro made the bizarre claim during a televised cabinet meeting, as the U.S. implemented more measures to curb the flow of illegal immigration and drugs from South America.