Bolivia hopes for buzz with coca campaign
by Peter Wilkinson, CNN | January 19, 2011
(CNN) -- For almost half a century the chewing of coca leaves, a practice dating back thousands of years, has been banned internationally. Now, Bolivia is urging countries to back a campaign to have coca removed from a United Nations list of banned drugs.
Coca is widely used in the Andes as a mild stimulant and herbal medicine. Advocates say the leaves, which contain small amounts of cocaine, have several health and social benefits and dismiss claims it is dangerous.
