Coca
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malpighiales Family: Erythroxylaceae Genus: Erythroxylum Species: E. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group Magnoliopsida is the Botanical name for a class of Flowering plants By definition the class will include the family Magnoliaceae, but its The Malpighiales are a large order of Flowering plants included in the group named Eurosids I in the recent APG classification The Erythroxylaceae (or coca family) is a family of Flowering plants consisting of 4 genera and at least 250 Species. Erythroxylum (= Erythroxylon) is a Genus of tropical Flowering plants in the family Erythroxylaceae. coca
Binomial name
Erythroxylum coca Lam.

Coca is a plant in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to north-western South America. Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet Chevalier de Lamarck ( August 1, 1744 &ndash December 18, 1829) was a French Soldier Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. In Biological classification, family ( Latin The Erythroxylaceae (or coca family) is a family of Flowering plants consisting of 4 genera and at least 250 Species. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The plant plays a significant role in traditional Andean culture. Coca leaves contain cocaine, which is a powerful stimulant, and also one of the most heavily controlled substances in the world. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global Black market consisting of the cultivation manufacture distribution and sale of illegal Drugs

Coca should not be confused with the similarly named South American Cocoa bean from which chocolate is made. Cocoa is the dried and fully fermented fatty seed of the cacao tree from which Chocolate is made Chocolate ( pronounced or /-ˈələt/ comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical Cacao tree

The plant resembles a blackthorn bush, and grows to a height of 2–3 m (7–10 ft). Blackthorn redirects here for other uses see Blackthorn (disambiguation Prunus spinosa ( Blackthorn or Sloe The branches are straight, and the leaves, which have a green tint, are thin, opaque, oval, and taper at the extremities. In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. A marked characteristic of the leaf is an areolated portion bounded by two longitudinal curved lines, one line on each side of the midrib, and more conspicuous on the under face of the leaf.

The flowers are small, and disposed in little clusters on short stalks; the corolla is composed of five yellowish-white petals, the anthers are heart-shaped, and the pistil consists of three carpels united to form a three-chambered ovary. A flower, also known as a bloom or Blossom, is the reproductive structure found in Flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also A petal (from Ancient Greek petalon "leaf" "thin plate" regarded as a highly modified leaf is one member or part of the corolla The stamen ( Plural stamina or stamens, from Latin stamen meaning "thread of the warp " is the male A gynoecium (from Ancient Greek gyne, "woman" is the Female reproductive part of a Flower. The flowers mature into red berries. The word berry has two meanings one based on a botanical definition the other on common identification

The leaves are sometimes eaten by the larvae of the moth Eloria noyesi. A larva ( Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of Animal with indirect development, undergoing Metamorphosis (for example A moth is an Insect closely related to the Butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Eloria noyesi is a beige Moth whose Larva feasts on Coca plants

Contents 1 Species and classification 2 Cultivation 3 Pharmacological aspects 4 History 5 Traditional uses 5.1 Industrial use 6 Literary references 7 Legal status 7.1 Legal status by country 7.2 Eradication 7.3 Coca Prayer Beads 8 See also 9 References 10 External links 10.1 Photographs 10.2 Videos

Species and classification

There are twelve main species and varieties. Two subspecies, Erythroxylum coca var. coca and E. coca var. ipadu, are almost indistinguishable phenotypically; a related high cocaine-bearing species has two subspecies, E. novogranatense var. novogranatense and E. novogranatense var. truxillense that are phenotypically similar, but morphologically distinguishable. Under the older Cronquist system of classifying flowering plants, this was placed in an order Linales; more modern systems place it in the order Malpighiales. A system of plant taxonomy, the Cronquist system is a scheme for the classification of flowering plants (or Angiosperms) The flowering plants or angiosperms ( Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta) are the most widespread group This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Linales is a Botanical name of an order of Flowering plants The Cronquist system used this name for an order placed in subclass The Malpighiales are a large order of Flowering plants included in the group named Eurosids I in the recent APG classification

Cultivation

Coca is traditionally cultivated in the lower altitudes of the eastern slopes of the Andes, or the highlands depending on the species grown. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. Since ancient times, its leaves have been an important trade commodity between the lowlands where it is grown and the higher altitudes where it is widely consumed by the Andean peoples of Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America.

Fresh samples of the dried leaves are uncurled, are of a deep green on the upper, and a grey-green on the lower surface, and have a strong tea-like odor; when chewed they produce a pleasurable numbness in the mouth, and have a pleasant, pungent taste. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market Taste (or more formally gustation) is a form of direct Chemoreception and is one of the traditional five Senses They are traditionally chewed with lime to increase the release of cocaine from the leaf. Lime is a general term for various naturally occurring Minerals and materials derived from them in which Carbonates Oxides and Hydroxides of Older specimens have a camphoraceous smell and a brownish colour, and lack the pungent taste. } Camphor is a waxy white or transparent solid with a strong aromatic odor

The seeds are sown from December to January in small plots (almacigas) sheltered from the sun, and the young plants when at 40–60 cm in height are placed in final planting holes (aspi), or if the ground is level, in furrows (uachos) in carefully weeded soil. A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. WEED (1390 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Spanish format The plants thrive best in hot, damp and humid situations, such as the clearings of forests; but the leaves most preferred are obtained in drier localities, on the sides of hills. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria The leaves are gathered from plants varying in age from one and a half to upwards of forty years, but only the new fresh growth is harvested. They are considered ready for plucking when they break on being bent. The first and most abundant harvest is in March after the rains, the second is at the end of June, and the third in October or November. Rain is Liquid precipitation. On Earth it is the condensation of atmospheric Water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall often making it to The green leaves (matu) are spread in thin layers on coarse woollen cloths and dried in the sun; they are then packed in sacks, which must be kept dry in order to preserve the quality of the leaves. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn.

Pharmacological aspects

The pharmacologically active ingredient of coca is the alkaloid cocaine, which is found in the amount of about 0. Pharmacology (from Greek grc φάρμακον pharmakon, "drug" and grc -λογία -logia) is the study of how Drugs This article is about the chemical compounds alkaloids For the Pharmaceutical company in the Republic of Macedonia see Alkaloid (company. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant 3 to 1. 5%, averaging 0. 8%^[1], in fresh leaves. Besides cocaine, the coca leaf contains a number of other alkaloids, including methylecgonine cinnamate, benzoylecgonine, truxilline, hydroxytropacocaine, tropacocaine, ecgonine, cuscohygrine, dihydrocuscohygrine, nicotine and hygrine. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant This article is about the chemical compounds alkaloids For the Pharmaceutical company in the Republic of Macedonia see Alkaloid (company. Methylecgonine cinnamate is a natural Tropane Alkaloid found within the Erythroxylum coca plant See also Methylecgonine cinnamate Truxilline Hydroxytropacocaine Tropacocaine Hydroxytropacocaine is a Tropane alkaloid found in Erythroxylum coca. Ecgonine is an Organic chemical and Tropane alkaloid found naturally in Coca leaves Cuscohygrine is a Pyrrolidine Alkaloid found in Coca. It can be extracted from plants of the family Solanaceae as well including Deadly Nicotine is an Alkaloid found in the Nightshade family of plants ( Solanaceae) which constitutes approximately 0 Hygrine is a Pyrrolidine Alkaloid, found mainly in Coca leaves (0 When chewed, coca acts as a mild stimulant and suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue.

Absorption of cocaine from the leaf is much less rapid and efficient than from the purified forms of cocaine, and it does not cause the euphoric and psychoactive effects associated with abuse of the drug. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Some proponents have claimed that cocaine itself is not an active ingredient when unprocessed coca leaf is chewed or brewed as an infusion. However, studies have shown that small but measurable amounts of cocaine are present in the bloodstream after consumption of coca tea. ^[2] Addiction or other deleterious effects from the consumption of the leaf in its natural form have not been documented. ^[3][4]

History

Traces of coca have been found in mummies dating to 3000 years ago. A mummy is a Corpse whose Skin and Flesh have been preserved by either intentional or Incidental exposure to Chemicals extreme ^[5] Extensive archeological evidence for the chewing of coca leaves dates back at least to the sixth century A. D. Moche period, and the subsequent Inca period, based on mummies found with a supply of coca leaves, pottery depicting the characteristic cheek bulge of a coca chewer, spatulas for extracting alkali and figured bags for coca leaves and lime made from precious metals, and gold representations of coca in special gardens of the Inca in Cuzco^[6][7] Coca chewing may originally have been limited to the eastern Andes before its introduction to the Incas. The Moche civilization (alternately the Mochica culture Early Chimu Pre-Chimu Proto-Chimu etc ||} Cusco (also spelled Cuzco, and in the local Quechua language as Qusqu 'qos The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. As the plant was viewed as having a divine origin, its cultivation became subject to a state monopoly and its use restricted to nobles and a few favored classes (court orators, couriers, favored public workers, and the army) by the rule of the Topa Inca (1471-1493). As the Incan empire declined, the drug became more widely available. After some deliberation, Philip II of Spain issued a decree recognizing the drug as essential to the well-being of the Andean Indians but urging missionaries to end its religious use. Philip II (Felipe II de España Filipe I ( May 21, 1527 &ndash September 13 1598) was King of Spain from 1556 until 1598 The Spanish are believed to have effectively encouraged use of coca by an increasing majority of the population to increase their labor output and tolerance for starvation, but it is not clear that this was planned deliberately.

The drug was first introduced to Europe in the 16th century, but did not become popular until the mid-19th century, with the publication of an influential paper by Dr. Paolo Mantegazza praising its stimulating effects on cognition. Paolo Mantegazza (1831&ndash1910 was a prominent Italian neurologist, Physiologist and Anthropologist, noted for the isolation of Cocaine This led to invention of cocawine and the first production of pure cocaine. Cocawine was an Alcoholic beverage that combined Wine and Cocaine. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Cocawine (of which Vin Mariani was the best-known brand) and other cocaine-containing preparations were widely sold as patent medicines and tonics, with claims of a wide variety of health benefits. Cocawine was an Alcoholic beverage that combined Wine and Cocaine. Vin Mariani ( French: Mariani's Wine) was a Tonic created Circa 1863 by Angelo Mariani, a chemist who became The original version of Coca-cola was among these. Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries These products became illegal in most countries outside of South America in the early 20th century, after the addictive nature of cocaine was widely recognized.

In recent times (2007), the governments of several South American countries, such as Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela, have defended and championed the traditional use of coca, as well as the modern uses of the leaf and its extracts in household products such as teas and toothpaste. (see Industrial Use below)

Traditional uses

Traditional medical uses of coca are foremost as a stimulant to overcome fatigue, hunger, and thirst. It is considered particularly effective against altitude sickness. Altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness ( AMS) altitude illness, or soroche, is a pathological condition that is caused by acute It also is used as an anaesthetic to alleviate the pain of headache, rheumatism, wounds and sores, etc. Anesthesia, or anaesthesia (see spelling differences; from Greek grc αν- an-, "without" and grc αἲσθησις Rheumatism or Rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the Heart, Bones Joints Kidney, Skin Before stronger anaesthetics were available, it also was used for broken bones, childbirth, and during trephining operations on the skull. Trepanation (also known as trepanning, trephination, trephining or burr hole) is surgery in which a hole is Drilled or scraped into Because cocaine constricts blood vessels, the action of coca also serves to oppose bleeding, and coca seeds were used for nosebleeds. Epistaxis (or a nosebleed in Plain English) is the relatively common occurrence of Hemorrhage from the Nose, usually noticed when the blood drains Indigenous use of coca has also been reported as a treatment for malaria, ulcers, asthma, to improve digestion, to guard against bowel laxity, as an aphrodisiac, and credited with improving longevity. Malaria is a vector -borne Infectious disease caused by Protozoan Parasites It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions including Ulcers are healing wounds that develop on the skin mucous membranes or eye Asthma is a chronic Condition involving the Respiratory system in which the airways occasionally constrict become inflamed, and are Digestion is the breaking down of chemicals in the body into a form that can be absorbed The word longevity is sometimes used as a synonym for " Life expectancy " in Demography. Modern studies have supported a number of these medical applications. ^[3]

Coca has also been a vital part of the religious cosmology of the Andean peoples of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and northern Argentina and Chile from the pre-Inca period through the present. This Coca leaves play a crucial part in offerings to the apus (mountains), Inti (the sun), or Pachamama (the earth). Apus ( Latin for the Swallow, later applied to Birds of paradise) from απους, meaning "no-feet" is a faint southern Constellation According to the Inca mythology, Inti was the Sun god, as well a patron deity of Tahuantinsuyu. Pachamama is a goddess revered by the indigenous people of the Andes. Coca leaves are also often read in a form of divination analogous to reading tea leaves in other cultures. Divination (from Latin divinare "to be inspired by a god" related to Divine, Diva and Deus) is the attempt of ascertaining As one example of the many traditional beliefs about coca, it is believed by the miners of Cerro de Pasco to soften the veins of ore, if masticated (chewed) and thrown upon them (see also Cocomama). Cerro de Pasco (population 70000 is a city in central Peru. It is the capital of the Pasco region, and an important Mining center An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining Inca mythology includes a number of stories and legends that are mythological and helps explain or symbolizes Inca beliefs

The activity of chewing coca is called mambear, chacchar or acullicar, borrowed from Quechua, or in Bolivia, picchar, derived from the Aymara language. Quechua ( Runa Simi) is a Native American language of South America. The Aymara are a native Ethnic group in the Andes and Altiplano regions of South America; about 1 The Spanish masticar is also frequently used, along with the slang term "bolear," derived from the word "bola" or ball of coca pouched in the cheek while chewing. Typical coca consumption is about two ounces per day, and contemporary methods are believed to be unchanged from ancient times. Coca is kept in a woven pouch (chuspa or huallqui). A few leaves are chosen to form a quid (acullico) held between the mouth and gums. Doing so usually causes users to feel a tingling and numbing sensation in their mouths. (The common dental anaesthetic Novocaine has a similar effect. Procaine is a Local anesthetic drug of the Amino Ester group It is used primarily to reduce the pain of Intramuscular injection of ) Chewing coca leaves is most common in indigenous communities across the central Andean region, particularly in places like the highlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru, where the cultivation and consumption of coca is as much a part of the national culture similar to chicha, like wine is to France or beer is to Germany. Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic Chicha is a term used in some regions of Latin America for several varieties of fermented beverages, particularly those derived from Maize, but which also Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. It also serves as a powerful symbol of indigenous cultural and religious identity, amongst a diversity of indigenous nations throughout South America. Bags of coca leaves are sold in local markets and by street vendors. Sao Paulo Stock Exchangejpg|thumb| Virtual market arena where buyer and seller are not present and trade via intemediates and electronical information Commercially manufactured coca teas are also available in most stores and supermarkets, including upscale suburban supermarkets. Coca tea, also called mate de coca, is a Tisane (herbal tea made using the leaves of the coca plant. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good

Coca is still chewed in the traditional way, with a tiny quantity of ilucta (a preparation of the ashes of the quinoa plant) added to the coca leaves; it softens their astringent flavor and activates the alkaloids. For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. An astringent (also spelled adstringent) substance is a chemical that tends to shrink or constrict Body tissues usually locally after Topical medicinal Flavor or flavour is the sensory impression of a Food or other substance, and is determined Other names for this basifying substance are llipta in Peru and the Spanish word lejía, lye in English. The consumer carefully uses a wooden stick (formerly often a spatula of precious metal) to transfer an alkaline component into the quid without touching his flesh with the corrosive substance. The alkali component, usually kept in a gourd (ishcupuro or poporo), can be made by burning limestone to form unslaked quicklime, burning quinoa stalks, or the bark from certain trees, and may be called ilipta, tocra or mambe depending on its composition. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Calcium oxide ( CaO) commonly known as burnt lime, lime or quicklime, is a widely used Chemical compound. For the town with a similar name see Quinua Peru. "Quinoa" is also a title of a 1992 music album by Tangerine Dream. ^[6][7] Many of these materials are salty in flavor, but there are variations. The most common base in the La Paz area of Bolivia is a product known as lejía dulce (sweet lye), which is made from quinoa ashes mixed with anise and cane sugar, forming a soft black putty with a sweet and pleasing licorice flavor. Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative Capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. In some places, baking soda is used under the name bico. Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the Chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3

In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, coca is consumed by the Kogi, Arhuaco and Wiwa by using a special device called poporo. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is an isolated mountain range apart from the Andes chain that runs through Colombia. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. History and people The state was formed in 1991 from parts of Kwara State and Benue State. Arhuaco redirects here For the Butterfly Genus, see Arhuaco (butterfly. Poporo is a device used for indigenous cultures in present and Pre-Columbian The poporo is the mark of manhood, but it is a female symbolic sex. "Symbolic" redirects here For other uses see Symbolism (disambiguation and Symbolic (disambiguation. It represents the womb and the stick is a phallic symbol. The movements of the stick in the poporo symbolize the sexual act. For a man the poporo is a good companion that means "food", "woman", "memory" and "meditation". Women are prohibited from using coca. It is important to stress that poporo is the symbol of manhood. But it is the woman who gives men their manhood. When the boy is ready to be married, his mother will initiate him in the use of the coca. This act of initiation is carefully supervised by the mama, a traditional priest-teacher-leader.

Although coca leaf chewing is common only among the indigenous populations, the consumption of coca tea (Mate de coca) is common among all sectors of society in the Andean countries, and is widely held to be beneficial to health, particularly in the high altitudes. Coca tea, also called mate de coca, is a Tisane (herbal tea made using the leaves of the coca plant. Coca leaf is sold packaged into teabags in most grocery stores in the region, and establishments that cater to tourists generally feature coca tea.

Industrial use

Coca is used industrially in the cosmetics and food industries. For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" A de-cocainized extract of coca leaf is reportedly one of the flavoring ingredients in Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries ^{[8][9][10][11][12]} Coca tea is produced industrially from coca leaves in South America by a number of companies, including Enaco S. Coca tea, also called mate de coca, is a Tisane (herbal tea made using the leaves of the coca plant. A. (National Company of the Coca) a government enterprise in Peru. ^[13][14]

Beginning in the early 21st century, there has been a movement in Bolivia, Peru, and Venezuela to promote and expand legal markets for the crop. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the The presidents of these three countries have personally identified with this movement. In particular, Evo Morales of Bolivia (elected in December 2005) was a coca growers union leader. Juan Evo Morales Ayma (born October 26 1959 in Orinoca, Oruro) popularly known as Evo (ˈeβo is the President of Bolivia since Morales asserts that "la coca no es cocaína"—the coca leaf is not cocaine. During his speech to the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 19, 2006, he held a coca leaf in his hand to demonstrate its innocuity. Membership For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly see General Assembly members Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[15]

Alan García, president of Peru, has recommended its use in salads and other edible preparations. Alan Gabriel Ludwig García Pérez (born May 23 1949 in Lima) is the current President of Peru, having won the 2006 elections on June 4 2006 in a run-off A Peruvian-based company has announced plans to market a modern version of Vin Mariani, which will be available in both natural and de-cocainized varieties. Vin Mariani ( French: Mariani's Wine) was a Tonic created Circa 1863 by Angelo Mariani, a chemist who became

In Venezuela, president Hugo Chávez said in a speech on January 2008 that he chews coca every day, and that his "hook up" is Bolivian president Evo Morales. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (ˈuɰo rafaˈel ˈtʃaβ̞es ˈfɾias (born July 28 1954 is the current President of Venezuela. Chávez reportedly said "I chew coca every day in the morning. . . and look how I am" before showing his bicep to his audience, the Venezuelan National Assembly. In Human anatomy, the biceps brachii is a Muscle located on the upper Arm. |||}The National Assembly ( Asamblea Nacional) is the current legislative branch of the Venezuelan government

On the other hand, the Colombian government has recently moved in the opposite direction. For years, Bogotá has allowed indigenous coca farmers to sell coca products, promoting the enterprise as one of the few successful commercial opportunities available to recognized tribes like the Nasa, who have grown it for years and regard it as sacred. Bogotá —officially named Bogotá DC (DC for " Distrito Capital " which means "Capital District" formerly called Santa Fe de Bogotá The Paez, also known as the Nasa, are a Native American people who live in the Andes Mountains of Colombia. In December 2005, the Paeces, a Tierradentro (Cauca) indigenous community, started in December to produce a carbonated soft drink called "Coca Sek". Coca Sek is a carbonated beverage that the Páez people of south-western Colombia began selling in December 2005. The production method belongs to the resguardos of Calderas (Inzá) and takes about 150 kg of coca per 3,000 produced bottles. The drink was never sold widely in Colombia, the efforts to do so ended in May 2007 when it was abruptly banned by the Colombian government.

Literary references

One of the best known examples of coca's reference in fiction is Patrick O'Brian's character, Stephen Maturin. Stephen Maturin (ˈmætyʊərˌɪn is a Fictional character in the Aubrey&ndashMaturin series of novels by Patrick O'Brian. In many of the more than twenty book series, a. k. a. Aubrey-Maturin series, Maturin expounds the benefits of coca. The Aubrey–Maturin series is a sequence of Historical novels — 20 completed and one unfinished — by Patrick O'Brian, set during the Napoleonic However, the reader is made aware of the truly addictive effects of the drug when rats, who have found the coca (Erythroxylum coca) and become seriously addicted, scour the ship looking for it. Not to be confused with Cocoa. Coca is a Plant in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to north-western South America

Legal status

Coca leaf is the raw material for the manufacture of the drug cocaine, a powerful stimulant and anaesthetic extracted chemically from large quantities of coca leaves. Manufacturing (from Latin manu factura, "making by hand" is the use of tools and labor to make things for use or sale A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a Chemical substance that acts primarily upon the Central nervous system where it alters Brain Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Stimulant drugs are Drugs that temporarily increase alertness and awareness Anesthesia, or anaesthesia (see spelling differences; from Greek grc αν- an-, "without" and grc αἲσθησις Today, since it has mostly been replaced as a medical anaesthetic by synthetic analogues such as procaine, cocaine is best known as an illegal recreational drug. Procaine is a Local anesthetic drug of the Amino Ester group It is used primarily to reduce the pain of Intramuscular injection of Recreational drug use is the use of Psychoactive drugs for Recreational purposes rather than for work, medical or spiritual purposes The cultivation, sale, and possession of unprocessed coca leaf (but not of any processed form of cocaine) is generally legal in the countries – such as Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina – where traditional use is established, although cultivation is often restricted in an attempt to prevent the production of cocaine. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant

The prohibition of the use of the coca leaf except for medical or scientific purposes was established by the United Nations in the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is an international Treaty to prohibit production and supply of specific (nominally Narcotic) Drugs and of drugs The coca leaf is listed on Schedule I of the 1961 Single Convention together with cocaine and heroin. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is an international Treaty to prohibit production and supply of specific (nominally Narcotic) Drugs and of drugs Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Heroin ( INN: diacetylmorphine, BAN: diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from Morphine, a derivative The Convention determined that “The Parties shall so far as possible enforce the uprooting of all coca bushes which grow wild. They shall destroy the coca bushes if illegally cultivated” (Article 26), and that, “Coca leaf chewing must be abolished within twenty-five years from the coming into force of this Convention” (Article 49, 2. e). ^[16]

The rationale for including the coca leaf in the 1961 Single Convention is mainly rooted in a report requested of the United Nations by the permanent representative of Peru that was prepared by a commission that visited Bolivia and Peru briefly in 1949 to “investigate the effects of chewing the coca leaf and the possibilities of limiting its production and controlling its distribution. ” The Commission of Enquiry on the Coca Leaf study, published in 1950, concluded that the effects of chewing coca leaves were negative, even though chewing coca was defined as a habit, not an addiction. ^[17][18]

The report was sharply criticised for its arbitrariness, lack of precision and racist connotations. The team members’ professional qualifications and parallel interests were also criticised, as were the methodology used and the incomplete selection and use of existing scientific literature on the coca leaf. Nowadays, a similar study would never pass the scrutiny and critical review to which scientific studies are routinely subjected. ^[19]

Despite the legal restriction, coca chewing and drinking of coca tea is carried out daily by millions of people in the Andes as well as considered sacred within indigenous cultures. The Andes form the world's longest exposed Mountain range. They lie as a continuous chain of highland along the western coast of South America. They claim that most of the information provided about the traditional use of the coca leaf and its modern adaptations are erroneous. This has made it impossible to shed light on the plant’s positive aspects and its potential benefits for the physical, mental and social health of the people who consume and cultivate it. ^[19]

In an attempt to obtain legal recognition for the traditional use of coca, Peru and Bolivia negotiated paragraph 2 of Article 14 into the 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, stipulating that measures to eradicate illicit cultivation and to eliminate illicit demand “should take due account of traditional licit use, where there is historic evidence of such use. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. The 1988 United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is one of three major drug control treaties currently in force ”^[20] Bolivia also made a formal reservation to the 1988 Convention, which required countries to adopt measures to establish the use, consumption, possession, purchase or cultivation of the coca leaf for personal consumption as a criminal offence. Bolivia stated that “the coca leaf is not, in and of itself, a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance” and stressed that its “legal system recognizes the ancestral nature of the licit use of the coca leaf, which, for much of Bolivia’s population, dates back over centuries. ”^[21][20]

However, the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) – the independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions – denied the validity of article 14 in the 1988 Convention over the requirements of the 1961 Convention, or any reservation made by parties, since it does not "absolve a party of its rights and obligations under the other international drug control treaties. The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB is the independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug conventions A quasi-judicial body is an individual or organization which has powers resembling those of a Court of law or Judge and is able to remedy a situation or impose legal "^[22]

In recent years the current legal status of the coca leaf is more and more questioned. Even the INCB stated in its 1994 Annual Report that "mate de coca, which is considered harmless and legal in several countries in South America, is an illegal activity under the provisions of both the 1961 Convention and the 1988 Convention, though that was not the intention of the plenipotentiary conferences that adopted those conventions. "^[23] It implicitly also dismissed the original report of the Commission of Enquiry on the Coca Leaf by recognizing that "there is a need to undertake a scientific review to assess the coca-chewing habit and the drinking of coca tea. "^[24]

Nevertheless, the INCB on other occasions did not show signs of an increased sensitivity towards the Bolivian claim on the rights of their indigenous population, and the general public, to consume the coca leaf in a traditional manner by chewing the leaf, and even goes as far as to consider drinking coca tea, as "not in line with the provisions of the 1961 Convention. "^[25][26] The Board considered Bolivia, Peru and a few other countries that allow such practises to be in breach with their treaty obligations, and insisted that “each party to the Convention should establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the possession and purchase of coca leaf for personal consumption. ”^[27]

In reaction to the 2007 Annual Report of the INCB, the Bolivian government announced that it would formally issue a request to the United Nations to unschedule the coca leaf of List 1 of the 1961 UN Single Convention. ^[28]

Legal status by country

Outside of South America, most countries' laws make no distinction between the coca leaf and any other substance containing cocaine, so the possession of coca leaf (except for de-cocainized leaf) is prohibited.

In the Netherlands, coca leaf is legally in the same category as cocaine, both are List I drugs of the Opium Law. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The Opium Law (or Opium Wet in Dutch is the section of the Dutch Law which covers nearly all psychotropic drugs The Opium Law specifically mentions the leafs of the plants of the species Erythroxylon. However, the possession of living plants of the species Erythroxylon are not actively prosecuted, even though they are legally forbidden.

In the United States, the Stepan Company of Maywood, New Jersey has the only license to legally import coca leaf. Maywood is a Borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The company manufactures pure cocaine for medical use and also produces a cocaine-free extract of the coca leaf, which is used as a flavoring ingredient in Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola is a carbonated Soft drink sold in stores restaurants and Vending machines in more than 200 countries According to the Bolivian Press, in 1996 the legal importation of coca leaf by Coca-Cola was 204 tons annually.

More recently, coca has been reintroduced to the U. S. as a flavoring agent in the herbal liqueur Agwa. Coca tea and coca flour (powdered coca leaves) are available in the U. S. through Amazon.com and Mysterious Bolivia. Amazoncom Inc ( is an American electronic commerce ( E-commerce) company in Seattle Washington.

Eradication

Main article: Coca eradication

Since the 1980s, the countries in which coca is grown have come under political and economic pressure from the United States to restrict the cultivation of the crop, in order to reduce the supply of cocaine on the international market. Coca eradication is a controversial strategy strongly promoted by the United States government as part of its " War on Drugs " to eliminate the Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant

Article 26 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs requires nations that allow the cultivation of coca to designate an agency to regulate said cultivation and take physical possession of the crops as soon as possible after harvest, and to destroy all coca which grows wild or is illegally cultivated. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is an international Treaty to prohibit production and supply of specific (nominally Narcotic) Drugs and of drugs The effort to enforce these provisions, referred to as coca eradication, has involved many strategies, ranging from aerial spraying of herbicides on coca crops to assistance and incentives to encourage farmers to grow alternate crops. Coca eradication is a controversial strategy strongly promoted by the United States government as part of its " War on Drugs " to eliminate the A herbicide is used to kill unwanted Plants Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired Crop relatively unharmed

This effort has been politically controversial, with proponents claiming that the production of cocaine is several times the amount needed to satisfy legal demand, and inferring that the vast majority of the coca crop is destined for the illegal market, which not only contributes to the major social problem of drug abuse, but also financially supports insurgent groups that collaborate with drug traffickers in some cocaine-producing territories. Critics of the effort claim that it creates hardship primarily for the coca growers, many of whom are poor and have no viable alternative way to make a living, causes environmental problems, that it is not effective in reducing the supply of cocaine, in part because cultivation can move to other areas, and that any social harm created by drug abuse is only made worse by the war on drugs. The War on Drugs is a prohibition campaign undertaken by the United States government with the assistance of participating countries intended to reduce the Illegal

Coca Prayer Beads

Coca branches are very hard and strong. Some special prayer beads made of coca branches. See also coca prayer beads in this link below. http://www.muayyer.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=52&func=view&id=1089&catid=9

See also

• Coca eradication
• Coca Museum
• Cocaine
• Coca-Cola
• Huallaga Valley
• Chapare Province

References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Commission on Narcotic Drugs is the central drug policy-making body within the United Nations system The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

• Turner C. E. , Elsohly M. A. , Hanuš L. , Elsohly H. N. Isolation of dihydrocuscohygrine from Peruvian coca leaves. Phytochemistry 20 (6), 1403-1405 (1981)
• "History of Coca. The Divine Plant of the Incas" by W. Golden Mortimer, M. D. 576 pp. And/Or Press San Francisco, 1974. This title has no ISBN.

External links

• Shared Responsibility
• Legalize Coca Leaves – and Break the Consensus
• OneWorld.net Analysis: Blurred Vision on Coca Eradication
• The Coca Museum (A private museum in La Paz, Bolivia)
• Coca - Cocaine website of the Transnational Institute (TNI)
• Coca, Cocaine and the International Conventions Transnational Institute
• Enaco S.A. Peruvian Enterprise of the Coca, Official Website
• Coca Yes, Cocaine No? Legal Options for the Coca Leaf Transnational Institute (TNI), Drugs & Conflict Debate Paper 13, May 2006
• Coca leaf news page – Alcohol and Drugs History Society

Photographs

• 27 original photos on coca growing in La Convención valley, Cuzco Province, Peru
• Harvesting coca in Yungas de La Paz, Bolivia
• Drying coca in the Chapare, Bolivia
• Coca Tea products manufactured in Peru by Enaco S.A.

Videos

• Democracy Now Interview with Bolivian President Evo Morales, in which he discusses the coca leaf
• Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez chews a coca leaf during a public TV broadcast and discuss its benefits

Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative Capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of La Paz Department. The Alcohol and Drugs History Society is a scholarly organization whose members study the history of a variety of illegal regulated and unregulated Drugs such as Opium

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