By Gill Bikram Singh 
Push for Coca Leaf Legalization Gains Momentum
Colombia has urged the United Nations to remove coca leaf from its list of harmful substances, arguing that the plant itself is not dangerous and has traditional and industrial uses beyond cocaine production. The request, presented by Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia at a UN narcotics commission meeting in Vienna, aligns with President Gustavo Petro’s stance on reforming global drug policies.
Traditional and Industrial Uses of Coca Leaf
While coca is the primary ingredient in cocaine, it is also widely used in South American countries like Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. Locals chew the leaves as a stimulant or brew them into tea to combat altitude sickness. Sarabia emphasized that removing coca from the 1961 UN drug list would enable its full industrial potential, including use in fertilizers and beverages.
Challenging the War on Drugs
Colombia’s government argues that decades of punitive drug policies have failed, with cocaine consumption rising globally. Sarabia pointed out that the number of users has grown by more than 50 million in the past decade, despite billions spent on eradication efforts. She also warned that keeping the plant illegal only benefits drug cartels, forcing rural farmers into illicit cultivation and leading to deforestation.
Colombia’s Changing Drug Policy
President Petro, Colombia’s first leftist leader, has been vocal about shifting drug policy from enforcement to prevention and economic alternatives for coca farmers. Last month, he sparked controversy by claiming cocaine is “no worse than whisky” and is criminalized primarily because it originates from Latin America. He argued that global legalization could dismantle the illicit trade and reduce violence.
Ongoing Efforts Against Drug Trafficking
Despite pushing for policy reform, Colombia continues to combat illegal drug operations. Since Petro took office in August 2022, authorities have seized over 1,900 tonnes of cocaine and dismantled 454 clandestine labs.