Good Bye, Cocaine. Hello Coca!
Bolivia, the world's third largest cocaine producer, has escaped US drug sanctions because it met the counter-narcotics commitment of eradicating at least 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres) of coca crop. According to Reuters, cocaine seizures were up 17 percent to 11 tonnes in Bolivia from October 2006 to May 2007, while coca leaf seizures increased by 48 percent. However, this could paradoxically be the result of higher production of cocaine.
Last year, the US imposed a "zero cocaine, but not zero coca" policy, allowing coca growers to develop a market for legal coca products. Bolivians believe that coca leaves are healthy. They have chewed them for centuries as a mild stimulant that reduces hunger pangs and altitude sickness.
Seems to me that Bolivians will have a hard time importing legal coca leaves to the US arguing that Americans need to cure their hunger pangs. Hunger is quite possibly the last thing Americans need cured.
However, I was surprised to find that you can buy coca tea in the US on ebay.com. I was even more surprised to find that they mix coca leaves with, of all things, chamomile. "Sleepy time, brought to you by coca." It is a strange, conflicted world we live in, folks.
Filed under: South America, Bolivia
Galley Gossip: Snacks on the plane
Letter from Nepal: Watching HBO with a living goddess
Big in Africa: 5 Things to do before traveling to Africa
Words English needs but doesn't have
Gadling Gear: Deuter Futura 28 Backpack (Warning: Not for Heavy Packers)
_thumbnail.jpg "Soulard Mardi Gras: St. Louis, Missouri")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sep 26th 2007 @ 11:06AM
Lita said...
You can buy it also at Amazon.com , just search for "coca tea" actually it is a good tea!
Reply
Sep 26th 2007 @ 11:09AM
Iva Skoch said...
I had no idea it is legal. Does it honestly work as a stimulant?
Reply
Sep 27th 2007 @ 2:13AM
James said...
I drank lots of Coca tea when I visited Bolivia in 2001. Fantastic trip, very friendly people and a beautiful country. The tea is very tasty - a little like green tea. I never felt much of a kick from the tea in tea bag form but when it is made directly from the Coca leaves its a bit more powerful. I even chewed Coca leaves direct while working long days in a clinic there. I bought the coca in a little store that had a big sack out front, very cheap (It was a toy store!!!!!).
http://homepage.mac.com/jamesema/PhotoAlbum44.html
Reply
Sep 27th 2007 @ 1:48PM
Stiv said...
My GF and I just brought back between the two of us 500 bags of coca tea from Peru.
Love the stuff, chewed the leaves and honestly the only time I noticed anything is if I had a cup or two after 5pm, it made sleeping somewhat a stretch.
At times it helped with the AMS but not that much. It was like maybe $2 a box of 100 bags.
They told us customs would have no issue but may have one with the leaves themselves.
Now if I have to take a random drug test I'm sure I'll come up hot for cocaine
Reply
Oct 13th 2007 @ 9:27PM
Bobbie-lee said...
Is coca legal in canada?
Reply
Oct 15th 2007 @ 7:17PM
Lita said...
You can order coca tea at Amazon.com and yes, they ship to Canada, it takes 2 weeks due custom, only order the air-tight bags, keep the product fresher longer
Reply