Global Ganja Report

The Bolivian state-supported company, Social Organization for the Industrailization of Coca (Ospicoca), began marketing this week a new carbonated energy drink called "Coca Colla"--which, unlike Coca-Cola, really does contain extract of coca leaf. "Colla" is a reference to the traditional name for the Aymara indigenous people of Bolivia, who have used coca leaf ritually for centuries. The initiative has the support of Evo Morales, the country's first Aymara president.

"This is a very healthy initiative, because it is step towards the industrialization and commercialization of coca leaf," said Rural Development Minister Víctor Hugo Vásquez at a La Paz press conference announcing the first sales of the new soft drink. (La Nacion, Argentina, April 16)

Photo by whertha