Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said that “cocaine is no worse than whisky,” as he suggested the multibillion dollar illicit trade in the drug could be “easily dismantled” if it was legalized worldwide.

Global drug trafficking could be “easily dismantled” if coke was “sold like wine,” according to the Latin American leader.

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,

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.