This week, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs held a session in Vienna, with Bolivia and Colombia among the participating countries. Both nations requested the removal of the coca leaf from the list of banned substances, citing its various uses and properties, and asserting their right to commercialize and industrialize the plant.
The coca leaf, a natural ingredient in traditional Andean culture, has been at the center of debates over its potential benefits and risks. Bolivia and Colombia argue that the leaf's natural form should be distinguished from its processed form, which is used in the production …