Petro's government announced it will endorse Bolivia's request for the removal of the coca leaf, which is recognised as a part of the identity and collective memory of both countries and other Indigenous communities in the Andean region.
Ongoing political turmoil has halted government plans to purchase vast quantities of illicitly grown coca, leaving the market in the hands of organised crime.
UNODC reports historical high levels of coca cultivation and potential coca production and offers insights into this increase, including as related to conditions of poverty and limited market access opportunities in rural areas of cultivation.
The Global Commission on Drug Policy puts forward recommendations to support effective and humane drug policy reforms that enhance peace, health, security and development in Colombia.
In the context of a devastating overdose crisis that pushes 21 people per day into premature death, community-led safe supply initiatives offer a vital lifeline.
Fontecha and Walker allude to a lack of formal economic opportunities, familial traditions and armed groups pressure as key factors that motivate young people's involvement in informal coca growing.