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Bolivia has launched a diplomatic offensive to try to end an international ban on chewing coca leaf.
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca is on a European tour in a bid to drum up support for taking coca off a UN treaty on banned drugs.
Coca has been used in the Andes for thousands of years as a mild stimulant and sacred herbal medicine.
But it is also the raw material for the production of illegal cocaine, and the US is expected to oppose the move.
Bolivia launches coca leaf diplomatic offensive
Seeded on Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:41 AM EST
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- Public Discussion (4)
Bolivia has been fighting this one for a long time. Indigenous rights need to stand for something. They believe that the leaves are a gift from god.
- 2 votes
#1 - Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:05 AM ESTSince it takes a kilo of leaves to make cocaine, the leaf itself is very mild. It gives relief from fatigue, hunger and pain. Why wouldn't a god that loved its people give a gift like this to ease suffering?
The US does a lot to keep international drug laws the way they are to further the war on drugs which supports the US private prison industry.
- 1 vote
Oh, absolutely. The war on (street) drugs has always been unwinnable and a farce.
That system is pretty entrenched, though. It's easy to make uninformed people fear all those "drug-crazed criminals" ala "Reefer Madness".
Very similar to those who chew Qat in Africa, yes. Or tobacco in...say...America...:)
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