The leaves of these two species—plants grown ... crucial for developing sustainable bioprospecting programs and the coca tree holds immense potential in this regard. But first, it is essential ...

Colombia's president says cocaine is "no worse" than whiskey as global efforts to "decolonize" the plant spread ...

Here they will turn the coca leaves into coca paste, a brick of dried powder that is just one stop short of pure cocaine. Small amounts of coca are legal for the indigenous who consider it a ...

Bolivia is pushing for the global decriminalisation of coca leaf – the main ingredient of cocaine – to export the plant and ease its economic crisis. But a "landmark" recent decision by the ...

Traditional uses of coca leaves have been recognized on many occasions as part of the identity and collective memory of Colombian, Bolivian and other indigenous communities in the Andean region.

Colombia, whose President Gustavo Petro is a vocal critic of the US-led war on drugs, on Monday urged the UN to remove coca -- the main ... Damaging winds will blow down trees and damage property.

In 2023, the South American country set a new record last year for coca leaf cultivation and cocaine production, which rose 53 percent from 1,738 tonnes (1,915 US tons) to 2,600 tonnes ...