I choose you, coca chew! (photo gallery)

In Bolivia, indigenous activists have been maintaining a massive coca-leaf-chewing vigil as part of a protest against an international ban on the traditional practice.

Hundreds of people chewed the leaf outside the US embassy in La Paz and in other cities across the country. Bolivia wants to amend a UN drugs treaty that bans chewing coca, which is an ancient tradition in the Andes. But the US has said it will veto the amendment because coca is also the raw material for making cocaine.

BBC News.

Photographs, above and below: Indigenous (Aymara) coca growers chewing coca and offering it to armed soldiers during a "Dia Nacional del Pijcheo de hoja de Coca" (National Coca Leaf Chewing Day), a rally to promote the chewing of coca leaves and its industrialization. The event took place in front of the U.S. embassy in La Paz, Bolivia, on January 26, 2011. Bolivia is the third largest producer of coca leaves in the world. (REUTERS/David Mercado)

Boing Boing editor/partner and tech culture journalist Xeni Jardin hosts and produces Boing Boing's in-flight TV channel on Virgin America airlines (#10 on the dial), and writes about living with breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2011. @xeni on Twitter. email: xeni@boingboing.net.

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benher

I’m all about traditional practices! Pass it along!
Anonymous

Classic empire tactic… Use the war on drugs to thwart a millenary tradition along with a life style so that the US can feel secure outside their borders. Way to go washington!!!
SamSam

I chewed a lot of cocoa leaves in Peru, but a fair warning: watch out for the lime.

You chew cocoa leaves with a small piece of lime (calcium hydroxide) because the lime reacts with the leaves. The locals are experts at creating a secure wad of leaves with the lime stone in the middle, but for a newb it;s quite easy to let the lime slip out and touch the inside of your mouth.

Believe me, there’s nothing more stimulating than feeling like you’re burning a hole in the side of your cheek using the same stuff they used to throw over dead bodies…
Anonymous

When I was in Peru, I drank a ton of coca tea, it was great! It gave me the same energy as coffee without the acidity or bitterness, and it’s easier to make than coffee, and it’s cheap and plentiful, and it tastes somewhat like yerba mate only less like dirt.
Axe7540

I support their right to do it but I think many of them chew coca to avoid the harsh reality of their lives. Better to give them better lives so they don’t have to chew that addictive garbage any more.
- Anonymous
  
  I think you must have overestimated the effect of chewing coca leaves…there is absolutely no high from chewing coca. Just a mildly energy boost, similar to drinking some coffee, and (maybe) a feeling of feeling your lungs fill easily — which is a real advantage at these altitudes.
  I’ve always wondered why govts don’t push for banning poppy seeds as strongly as they do coca. But then again, the pharma industry does use so many opiates and no coca alkaloids…
  - rebdav
    
    Ask any ENT if she never uses Cocaine alkaloids on patients. In the ER it was very common to use it by a few doctors becaues it both shrinks and anesthetizes the tissues, much better than epi/lidocaine.
    BTW Cocaine HCL is schedule 3 in the US like Valium with some abuse potential but lower than schedule 2 morphine or schedule 1 LSD or Marijuana.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  In other news, people should stop drinking coffee and get more sleep.
  - Anonymous
    
    Uh, they have lives, and they’re not a terribly oppressed people, either. Just because you are poor doesn’t mean your life sucks… The miners in Potosi… well, their lives arguably suck. Its just like chewing tobacco or coffee. Mixed with a little baking soda, and it turns your mouth numb, fun stuff.
    
    I encourage everyone to travel there, its one of the most beautiful countries in the world. La Paz is one of the prettiest, and most unusual looking cities I’ve ever been to.
simonbarsinister

Human Sacrifice was a traditional practice in Bolivia during the Inca reign.

Just because it’s “traditional” doesn’t make it good.
- Malgwyn
  
  I don’t know. In the spirit of scientific inquiry, I’m willing to try it. The religious get to dictate a lot of social policy, if there was some instituted practice that required that they ritually kill a certain percentage of their own members, and that leaders would sometimes need to put their blood on the stones to prove their bona fides. I can’t help but think that it might be a good idea. Look at all the good that has come out of the ritualistic slaying of Martin Luther King and other martyrs. Is this not human sacrifice?
  
  So on that basis, let’s keep coca leaf safe and legal.
doingsitups

this is what happens when you don’t have the internet, cos if they have internet, they’d be busy posting sh*t on facebook, 4chan and getting addicted to MMOs to care about plucking damn leaves!
pablo9891

jaja, you really make me laugh guys, this is an ancient ritual that doesn’t make no harm to no one and is also as someone else said a way that people in bolivia uses against the alttitude problems, and it’s older than the cocaine problems of the modern civilization, it’s not garbage as axe7540 said, OMG simon… what are you saying??, how could you compare a sacrifice with this?
mraverage

Guesstimate; Good idea! As far as i know it is not illegal to bring in or sell bagged coca tea in the U.S. I’ve assumed that the logic behind this is that no one would buy and import a kilo of leaves that are already inside tea bags just to take the leaves out and go through the chemistry to get one line of the powder…..If there is any logic to any drug laws.
BTW: When i was living and working there in ’98, the conglomerate Hansa sold high quality bagged coca tea. Among other things, Hansa was Volkswagen of Bolivia.
ogvor

I learned in a Spanish language class that chewing Coca leaves or drinking coca tea is just about the same as eating a poppy seed muffin. In other words, they aren’t anywhere near as dangerous purified drug that they’re known for and are in fact helpful. The US Embassy in Peru reportedly recommends chewing coca leaves or drinking coca tea for Altitude sickness as the natives have been doing for years. This doesn’t affect you chemically any more than a cup of coffee and isn’t addictive.

This protest is simply another against the ridiculous drug war.

http://www.ehow.com/list_5892036_effects-coca-tea.html
Anonymous

Stupid reason. Almost anything can be raw material for making drugs. For sure there won’t invent a new law forbidding glue to be sold, or gasoline.
Haven’t they heard yet about crystal meth?!?!?
And hello there! Are you Pro-Zac(k)?
Anonymous

Coca is an extremely mild stimulant…it’s not a “high” any more than drinking a coke is, but it helps regulate breathing at high altitudes and eases hunger and tiredness. The effect is less noticeable than a cup of coffee, without the side effects or mide-afternoon crash you get from caffeine. Far from something that help people “avoid the harsh reality of their lives,” coca is a gentle boost to help get through that reality a little easier.
Anonymous

I once witnessed an American judge waxing philosophical about drug addiction, and he was puzzled about what problems the Indians in Peru had that they needed to try to suppress them by chewing cocoa leaves. I think he thought that chewing cocoa leaves started because of the cocaine trade to the United States. He honestly had no idea that chewing cocoa leaves is pretty analogous to our drinking coffee, or that it had any purpose other than trying to run away from one’s “problems.”
Soliloquy

Man, Bolivians have some sweet hats.
TPS Reports

Axe7540, these people have lives. But as for the prohibitionist zealots who think coca leaves are a threat to US security–they should most certainly get a life.
Anonymous

If we could just get everyone to ban dirt and water we could finally win this war.
blendergasket

This is the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard of. I traveled through Bolivia a bit and I chewed a lot of coca leaves. It gives you a very mild amount of extra energy, as people have said in the comments. The reason I consume the coca leaves is because it cures the effects of altitude sickness. La Paz varies between 10,000 and 13,000 feet above sea level and there are lots of areas in Bolivia that are much higher than that. The effects of the altitude can be intense. I remember the first night I got up into the Bolivian high lands I lay in bed and just hallucinated (totally sober). I couldn’t walk more than a few blocks without getting winded. I had huge headaches. Coca leaves alleviated all these symptoms. I felt pretty much fine when chewing them.

I remember seeing an altar on Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca. It was covered with coca leaves, which were given as an offering. We need to keep our hands out of their cultures. It’s obvious that the people who created this ban either had no idea or were completely apathetic. That’s sad.
- pablo9891
  
  i’m totally agree with what you’re saying
Anonymous

Just to give some perspective, the US Drug Schedule lists marijuana as a Class 1 drug, meaning that it is supposedly as dangerous as heroin or LSD, while cocaine and coca leaves are listed as Class 2 drugs, equally dangerous and less harmful than marijuana. Hmmm…

As others have said, coca leaves are less addictive and have less bodily and mental effects than coffee, even though we exploit all kinds of people in Latin America to get our cheap beans…
mraverage

Coca has at least a 3000 year history of use. It is an effective medicine for pain, kidney ailments, altitude sickness and more. Cocaine, like multiple use gas chambers, is a German invention. What is the difference? The leaf gives no mental effects and except for partially alleviating headache, exhaustion and nausea at altitudes over 14,000ft. above sea level it has no physical effects either. By the time i got to nearly 23,000 ft., i only felt as miserable as i usually do at 20 0r 21,000. As for cocaine; it’s not that pleasant or effective for me, so I don’t do it. Gourmet coffee is stronger and more fun. Tastes better too. Coca tea’s flavor is ok, just a bit insipid.
If you think that altitude sickness is not a common problem, remember that in Bolivia alone; four and a half million people live higher than the highest road in California. For a long time World Cup soccer games were not permitted to be held in Bolivia’s capital and largest city because the air is too thin.
Coca is also the only crop that pays anything like enough to live on for the lowland farmers who have been growing it since the Pharaohs ruled Egypt. Those farmers are poor and have no political power, so of course our D.E.A. has chosen to persecute them. In the eradication effort of 1995, D.E.A. supervised Bolivian troops killed three innocent people (one was a child). That December 300 cocaleras (women who grow coca TEA) began a 30 day march from their homes in Chapare province to La Paz to air their grievances. They said things like: “This is a march in defense of our right to live”, “Why are we forced to cook for the soldiers who burn our fields?”, and “If you want us to stop growing coca then give us alternatives, not just words.” Maybe if the D.E.A. handled their import-export business like it does for the El Salvador government/cocaine cartel the ladies wouldn’t have these problems. The women became heroes to the Bolivian people. Our government is something less, but the Bolies know from first hand experience the difference between what a country’s government and what its people are. They usually don’t hate us personally.
Besides killing innocent women and children in coca producing areas our D.E.A. also pays $2500 for each hectare of coca eradicated (about $1000 / acre). This eradication is rarely permanent and there is a lot of land to switch from coca to scraggly corn and back again. Theres also a lot of virgin forest even deeper in the hills. To me it just looks like another rat hole for our tax dollars and a gold mine for pocket lining bureaucrats from two countries.

Axe7540 & simonbarsinister; youall don’t know much, do you?
DoctressJulia

That third picture made me smile. There is some love there, I think. Brings hope to even my bitter self. :)
Nawel

Like others have said, chewing coca leaves (or drinking the tea, which I agree is similar to mate in taste) has NOTHING to do with cocaine; the effects are nowhere close (I’ve tried both and there’s nothing common, trust me). And in high altitudes like in Bolivia or the Andes heights, the effect of coca leaves make your breathing easy.

But try to convince the US govt…
ablebody

U.S. out of bolivia!
Anonymous

Don’t you mean “I chews you”?
wgmleslie

In Bolivia, indigenous activists have been maintaining a massive coca-leaf-chewing vigil as part of a protest against an international ban on the traditional practice.

A vigil that will last for 13 weeks straight with no sleep…
Anonymous

dude, stop hatin on the USG

our drug war is going so awesome here guys

we havent imprisoned like a bajillion minorities in for-profit prisons to launder tax money to d-bags

were savin the woooooorld

plus if we stop exportin wars no1 will need us anymore…
Guesstimate Jones

Probably the single most effective step the US could take towards solving the cocaine “problem”, would be to legalize trade in raw coca leaf. Allow pharmaceutical companies to use it in medicines, and allow raw leaf to be exported, for use in tea, or for chewing.

This sort of arrangement threatens the status-quo on both sides of the War on Drugs, however, so it seems unlikely that it will come to pass.
Ernunnos

Third picture. Talk about “meet cute”.
- jonw
  
  Coca + Riot Police = Smiles
- Jean-Luc Turbo
  
  It’s a great photo. What a lopsided world we live in that he can’t accept the bag of coca leaves as his hands are full with the shield he is holding…
Anonymous

Good, freshly dried coca leaf contains 1% cocaine (dry weight) and does have an effect, and is addictive, similarly to how coffee is addictive. Many South Americans (mostly in the countryside) hate to work without it. It is generally a harmless addiction, although heavy chronic use probably strains the heart.

The cocaine content drops rapidly in dry leaves, by the time they’ve been powdered, packaged in tea bags, stored & shipped they will contain very little cocaine indeed.

The illegality of cocaine has absolutely nothing to do with its harmfulness and everything to so with big bucks for the CIA and other wholesale dealers of death.

Banning the chewing of coca leaf in South America is handy for eliminating those pesky indigenous traditions, which tend to get in the way of the global market.
Antinous / Moderator

My name is Evo Morales and I approve this message.
KIRB

Peruvian here. You can find coca leaves in any market, yo can find it tea-baged anywhere also. Everybody drinks coca tea and chewing the leaves is a widespread custom in rural areas. That doldier in the third photo, is smiling because he probably drinks or chews coca leaves in his free time. It’s like he realizes how stupid this prohibition is but, you know, orders are orders. meh.
Anonymous

COCA LEAF = CURE FOR PAIN.

COCA LEAF = CURE FOR PAIN.

COCA LEAF = CURE FOR PAIN.

May the truth echo.

COCA LEAF IS GOOD FOR YOU…

Coca leaf is non habitual & non addictive in nature.

The amount of cocaine present in the coca leaf is small. As such it is non toxic to the human system & in fact beneficial.
One could stuff ones guts & be perfectly healthy.

It takes many kilos of the sacred holy coca leaf to produce one kilo of the zombie potion cocaine.

Coca leaf is a better source of calcium than milk & protein than steak. Coca leaf is full of vitamins & nutrients. One can survive off of it.

COCA LEAF IS A SUPER FOOD STUFF!!!!

Please consider researching the living god coca leaf.

The spirits of plants can teach if we listen.

http://www.erowid.org/plants/coca/

Coca leaf defeats pain, hunger, thirst, anger, tiredness, stabilizes glucose levels, helps breathing, helps eye sight, helps stamina, reduces scar tissue, builds muscles, and more…etc.

It can save your life. It is a blessing to share. To give coca leaf to another is to extend blessings.

Acquire some relatively fresh green coca leaves. Time is of the essence as the quality of material fades over time due to chemical spectrum decomposition over time once harvested. Mix a quid with baking soda in the manner in which you like to assist in alkaloid extraction. Then stuff your gums like a chipmunk. Within one minute all pain shall leave your body, you will see the wisdom of the thing.

;-))

Those suppressing this organic life extending technology are guilty of HIGH TREASON against the American people, much more the world. They would prefer our elders & children suffer in horrible agonizing pain than be cured. This is unacceptable.

Why should Americans not get the best? COCA LEAF

Industries like big pharma would prefer to make a profit off of treating you within involuntary eugenics programs than curing you.

The American people are under chemical & biological attack by hostile foreign powers which are running the companies producing these & foisting them upon the people in an act of WAR. A means to dispense death to the American people. They would prefer you took poison pills which chemically lobotomize your brain & destroy your internal organs to make you bleed out of your anus than get well & be healthy.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

THE TRUTH REQUIRES NO DEFENSE.

COCA LEAF IS THE NEW COCAINE BACK TO THE FUTURE.
All the good with none of the bad, so get hip. Can you dig it?

The world must work hand in hand with the Bolivian people in friendship to advance production of COCA LEAF. That we might make all our lives better.

WE ARE ENERGY BY DJ MVMNT INCLUDING DAVID ICKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuYqLxUL5xo

Blessings of love, peace, communication, and knowledge.
humanresource

Awesome, I hope (without believing) they can get the Treaty amended. Talk about a colorful protest – I wish I could be there to.. um… lend my support. That’s it. Solidarity!
Incidentally I wonder if there are any ancient practices the USA would give up – like making and selling guns – just because they devastate foreign communities?
AlexG55

I’ve got nothing against chewing coca leaves in most cases, but do coca and guns really mix? The soldiers can chew coca (or drink beer, or take whatever mind-altering chemical they choose) when they’re not armed and on duty…
- beejamin
  
  Alex, it’s been said here a lot of times already: Chewing coca is about as mind altering as drinking a cup of coffee. Possibly less so, seeing as you need to chew/suck/process it in your mouth over a matter of hours, rather than getting it in a quick hit like coffee.
Anonymous

What is important about this is that Coca leaves are used as a relief from the stress caused by high altitudes. The symptoms are shortness of breath, nausea, headaches, fatigue.
Anonymous

Yeah, this is stupid – it’s like banning coffee. Coca is used all through the Andes; the locals chew it, the tourists drink coca tea to help with altitude sickness. Cocaine is not a problem in these places.
Anonymous

It is said to dissolve the gross humours and do away with appetite.