Prompted by Bolivia and supported by Colombia, the World Health Organization (WHO) will conduct a critical review of the coca leaf over the next year. This review comes decades after the coca leaf was banned under the UN drug treaties. The WHO’s findings may lead to changes in coca’s classification under UN drug treaties, with a vote likely in 2026. The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) and the Transnational Institute (TNI) closely monitor this review and explore key aspects through the “Coca Chronicles” series.
The first issue of Coca Chronicles explored the coca leaf’s Schedule I classification under the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Bolivia’s push for the WHO review. The second issue covered key developments from the March 2024 CND session, including support from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bolivia’s call to protect the coca leaf as a genetic resource, and updates on WHO’s review preparations.
In this third issue, Wade Davis, a renowned Canadian cultural anthropologist, ethnobotanist, and writer, discussed the coca leaf’s history and significance in the Andean Amazon on our podcast. Davis is a professor at the University of British Columbia, he has authored over 25 books and has extensively researched the coca leaf and other ethnobotanical subjects.
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