Coca complexities

According to a UN report, "Peru overtakes Colombia as world's top coca leaf grower." More due to Colombia's recent reductions in coca production than to any major increase in Peru, this first-place distinction is considered international news because of the plant's direct link to the global drug market.

But here in Peru, coca's claim to fame has nothing to do with cocaine. The leaf is a staple of Andean culture, particularly among rural campesinos. Men and women alike chew coca leaves almost constantly, partially for their caffeine-like effects and partially because that's what everyone has done for hundreds of years - the tradition has deep roots. The leaves are sold in the markets by the bagful, and you'll often see campesinos walking along chewing on leaves and tapping the small gourds that hold the complementary lime powder.

The local and global views of these little green leaves make for an interesting contrast: time-honored tradition versus should-be-eradicated drug ingredient. This difference in perspective also makes coca-related policy making a thorny task, as many believe that it wouldn't be fair to stamp out such an important cultural custom in the name of controlling the drug trade.