Coca...the new Hemp?
The Industrial Hemp movement has inspired Bolivian president Evo Morales to tout the coca plant as a commercially viable industrial crop. Running under the moniker of "Coca sí, Cocaína no", Morales and supporters have undertaken a successful marketing campaign espousing the virtues of the coca plant. Much like hemp, the coca plant can be used in everyday products such as shampoo, food, and cookies.
Seen by many as a champion for the poor, Evo Morales' humble beginnings make him an ideal spokesperson for poor coca farmers. His political saavy was honed during his years as an influential union leader in Bolivia's central coca-growing region. His poplularity has extended beyod Bolivia...Morales is fast becoming a rising interntaional star. He recently met Condolezza Rice and presented her with a miniature coca-leaf guitar:
("The gift was well received. We will just have to check with our customs to see what rules apply. We certainly hope we can bring it back (to Washington)," said a senior State Department official who attended the meeting.)
It should be noted that the U.S. and other countries have contributed some 700 million dollars to combatting coca cultivation and production in the central Bolivia. Much of this money was spent on eradication and the establishment of seemingly suitable alternative crops such as pineapples. These efforts have been an total disaster for Bolivian farmers..."the development projects failed when it became apparent that the region's remoteness makes shipping pineapples and bananas too expensive, and that prices for the crops can't compete with coca" writes Der Spiegel.
The industrial hemp movement has clearly set an example for Morales, the decriminilization of coca lobby, and coca production farmers. The issue is, that unlike hemp (which is genetically and chemically different from marijuana), coca is used for both legitimate products and illegal cocaine. This could spell a disaster for the drug war, given that Bolivia could soon become a huge exporter of legally grown coca leaf. I thought the U.S. DEA had it's hands full with the industrial hemp issue, but really it's a cakewalk compared to Bolivia's coca legalization campaign.