«We will never legalize»: Maduro reaffirms Venezuela's ban on cannabis

At a press conference with the international media on September 15, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro categorically rejected any possibility of reforming his country's cannabis laws.

«In Venezuela, [cannabis] is still illegal and will remain so. In Venezuela, we will not fall into the insane trend of legalizing any drug,» he declared, as reported by La Patilla.

The Venezuelan government takes an uncompromising stance, rejecting any comparison with nations - even neighboring ones - that have chosen to legalize.

Traffic charges and Brazilian air incident

The Venezuelan leader's remarks were in part a response to reports linking his country to the drug trafficking, following a Brazilian air force operation on September 10. According to Primera Edición Col, a Beechcraft 58 Baron from Venezuela was intercepted after entering Brazilian airspace without authorization.

When the pilot ignored the instructions of the A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets, a chase ensued over the Amazon rainforest. The pursuit ended when the plane crashed near a dam in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo. The authorities said they had seized 380 kilos of cannabis, while the pilot managed to escape.

Despite these discoveries, Maduro categorically denied that Venezuela was involved in the production or export of cannabis.

«If you want to find marijuana, look for it in the United States, which produces synthetic super-cannabis, and where marijuana production and consumption are legal. How can you point the finger at Venezuela? You have no morals,» he declared.

Maduro also took the opportunity to divert attention to the United States, accusing Washington of hypocrisy. He criticized American legalization and the increase in synthetic substances, in particular the fentanyl.

«Synthetic drugs are more destructive and deadly than any other known drug. Like fentanyl: they can't even blame Venezuela for a single fentanyl pill,» he complained.

The controversy surrounding the intercepted plane coincides with a wider escalation of US operations in the Caribbean. According to regional reports, Washington has deployed F-35 fighter jets, warships, nuclear submarines and approximately 4,000 marines in Puerto Rico and the southern Caribbean as part of its strategy to combat drug trafficking.

In recent weeks, US forces have carried out direct strikes against vessels suspected of being linked to Venezuelan groups. On September 2, Washington announced it had sunk a ship it accused of transporting narcotics on behalf of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, An action that left 11 people dead. A few days later, another operation left three more dead.