The Intelligence from The Economist Redrawing the lines: cocaine policy in Latin America
Oct 20, 2022
Emma Hogan, an editor at The Economist, discusses Colombia's transformative drug policies amid the ongoing failures of the war on drugs. She highlights a shift towards decriminalizing coca leaf production and engaging with criminal organizations. Tom Wainwright, technology editor, tackles Meta’s battle with declining user numbers and the challenges of launching the metaverse. He emphasizes that while the metaverse is a gamble for Meta, the real risk lies in the waning interest of its traditional user base. Plus, explore the quirky dynamics of electric scooters in London!
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Interview with Petro
- Emma Hogan interviewed President Petro in New York during the UN General Assembly.
- Petro, a former M19 guerrilla member, presents a more casual style than other heads of state.
Limited Impact
- Petro's proposed changes, like decriminalizing coca leaf, are limited in their impact on illegal gangs.
- Legal coca production in Peru and Bolivia hasn't stopped illegal production or cocaine trafficking.
Legalization Challenges
- Legalizing cocaine in producing countries without consumer country legalization would likely lead to sanctions.
- Significant profit margins exist in the cocaine trade due to price differences between producing and consuming countries.