Colombia’s president: Legalize cocaine, it’s no worse than whiskey

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Just wanted to point out, of the three you mentioned, cocaine is still used in medicine, especially in dentistry. You may in fact even have used an analog yourself that's pretty common: Lidocaine

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And the risk of alcohol and cars dramatically increases your risk of death and yet...

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Using Cocaine as a local anesthetic is very different from use aimed at psychoactive stimulation. E.g. having a small dosage injected in your gums vs. snorthing/smoking/IV use. I wonder though, how often it has to be used instead of lidocaine in practice.

We have the same issue with opiates, where the medical use is crucial, but the problems of abuse are also very strong. However while the physical addiction is extremely strong with opiates, it seems that many of the associated problems are particularly strong due to criminalization. E.g. people with chronic pains who receive opiates permanently can life a somewhat normal life, despite a physical dependence having developed. Programs that provide clean heroin to addicts have been very successful in mitigating a lot of the harm.

People who are high on Cocaine, Meth or Alcohol constantly will cause problems to themselves and others. The Ego-boost and inhibition reduction destroy peoples character. You also have regular reports from heroine users, that their local drug scene got much more problematic, when there was a wave of crack coming in.

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Possibly true, but also a lot of the reports for issues caused by cocaine use lump cocaine with all of its derivatives, including things like crack cocaine. Rarely is pure cocaine affordably sold in the black market.

It would be as fair as combining statistics for oxycodone and tramadol.

I don't think cocaine is as dangerous as it's usually thought of from what I've read. Still dangerous enough to be age restricted and regulated for sure, but also in the right doses about as harmful as cigarettes (except cigarettes also harm those nearby)

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Crack isn't a derivative of Cocaine. powdered Cocaine is typically the HCl salt. Crack is the free base, which makes it soluble for IV injection or smokeable. Because of the "direct" connection to the bloodstream it works much quicker and harder with a shorter duration. But it is the same active chemical compound.

As for recreational Cocaine use, i have witnessed many people falling into addiction w.o. realizing it. Typically it would go like this: Only at Festivals -> only in the club -> yeah birthday home party -> We are all very drunk at the bar, what if we call a dealer to extend the evening? -> i brought some to the bar already, so we don't have to find a dealer this time -> i'm bored at home...

Cocaine is especially dangerous in this regards because it is "smoother", the effects don't last as long as for other stimulants and in lower dosages it can go below the radar of people unfamiliar with drug use, whereas people on amphetamine are more easy to spot already from their physical appearance under the influence.

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I know, it's such a shame there's never been a campaign to inform people about the risks of drunk driving... /s

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Is it though? I think it is still worse than alcohol, but I do think decriminalizing can be better for treating and caring for the addicts. Addicts aren't criminals, they are sick and need help.

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I think ethically, legal status should not be a barrier to education about drugs. Sadly, in reality it often is (this includes research as well).

I'm not advocating for intrusive policing, if that's what you think. The system we have now in many places is horribly broken and abusive. Instead I'm saying we should have policies for what's essential to public health (e.g. don't give hard drugs to children), better resources for doctors and other healthcare workers, and robust (and scientifically accurate) informational campaigns.

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You are making a false equivalence when you compare alcoholics to casual cocaine users. You should compare alcoholics and cocaine addicts.

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You can grow coca plants in other nations. It grows in Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Venezuela.

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Cocaine, like, regular chemical cocaine, is also used as a vasopressor (think Epinephrine) in Europe.

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Alcohol - meaning Ethanol - is also used in medicine due its antimicrobial properties though. I believe the medical-grade mouthwash I used after my wisdom teeth were removed contained some ethanol, though I'm unsure because I didn't memorize the ingredients.

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Really ? the devil ? We agree on the fact that legalization would go a long way in encouraging safe use. However you seem to be under the impression that drugs are solely used as a getaway from hardships of life. Let me know if I got that wrong. In any case, plenty of users find drugs to be entertaining, eye-opening, tranquilizing, or otherwise interesting or helpful in a variety of other ways. I think it's important to remember that many drugs are just part of nature; plants, mushrooms. They're god's creation.

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99% of my drug problems are law related.

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I read some time ago that drug producers often don't want it to be legal. They make a lot more money when it's illegal.

But yes, I believe so too.

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If drugs are legal, education on such stuff could be done in schools, just like sexual education.

It also allows people to be honest about their usage in case of heart problems. For example, I live in a country where you can simply tell your doctor or hospital about drugs in your system and they will not call the police for it. It's much safer.

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Both can be horrible.

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There are synthetic cathinones that give a similar effect.

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just like sexual education.

Not off to a great start there for a major part of the USA

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USA only has 4.2% of the world population. And the article is about the Columbian president and his stance.

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Colombia’s president: Legalize cocaine, it’s no worse than whiskey