Legalize Cannabis To Reduce Drug Cartel Violence

Colombia is experiencing a new round of violence as various armed players, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and criminal groups like the Gulf Clan, vie for control of drug trafficking routes and illicit economies.

In regions such as Catatumbo and Chocó, clashes between the players have resulted in dozens of deaths and widespread displacement of civilians.

President Petro’s “Total Peace” policy of negotiating with these groups has been under pressure, with peace talks stalled and violence increasing.

This instability has not only generated humanitarian crises but also jeopardized the progress made since the 2016 peace agreement with FARC, as smaller armed groups continue to use the narcotics trade to fund their campaigns.

Therefore, Petro aims to remove cannabis from the control of drug cartels to reduce violence through its full legalization, although cocaine remains the most trafficked drug.

Colombia’s Failed Attempts To Legalize Cannabis

However, to achieve this, Congress must revive the legalization process for cannabis, which has been disrupted multiple times.

Cannabis in Colombia has been fully legal for medicinal purposes since 2016 and industrial purposes since 2021. For recreational use, cannabis has been decriminalized only for self-cultivation, possession, and consumption since 1994, but sale remains illegal. This prevents the establishment of a legal market like in the United States and Canada.

Over the years, Colombian lawmakers have attempted to legalize recreational cannabis multiple times but have never succeeded. In December 2023, the Colombian Senate once again rejected a proposed bill aimed at legalizing adult-use cannabis in the country.

President Petro has continuously argued that drug control is a more desirable and economically beneficial alternative to prohibition.

In September of 2023, addressing the Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Drugs in Cali, Petro addressed delegates from across the continent, proposing that Latin American nations unify in the battle against drug trafficking. He advocated for a change of drug consumption to being considered a public health issue rather than continuing to rely on what he characterized as a failed, militarized approach.

Earlier, in 2022, Petro made a speech to the United Nations, urging member states to reassess their drug policy and move away from prohibition.

Can Cannabis Legalization Reduce Violence in Colombia?

While cocaine is the largest drug produced in Colombia, cannabis cultivation still plays a significant role in the country’s illicit drug trade. For example, a potent cannabis strain known as “creepy,” grown in regions like Valle del Cauca and Cauca, is sold locally for around $250 per kilogram, according to an El Tiempo article. However, when the same kilogram is exported to the United States, it can fetch as much as $6,500.

In 2021, Dejusticia, a non-governmental legal think tank, indicated that in 2015, there were over 775,000 individuals aged 15 to 64 years old who consumed cannabis, making up 2.2% of the population. That consumption drove an internal market estimated to be between $550 million and $1.1 billion, largely controlled by criminal organizations.

A report published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime highlighted that as legislators call for the legalization of cannabis, they argue that a regulated market would slash criminal control of the trade and, in turn, reduce the violence associated with it. However, experts point out that “cannabis regulation would not be the immediate solution to violence in Colombia, as the far more violent cocaine market would persist.”