An international coalition of scientists, policymakers, and Indigenous advocates is intensifying its call for the World Health Organization to recommend the decriminalization of the coca leaf, a plant with deep cultural roots in the Andean region of South America. This movement has prompted the WHO to undertake a critical review of the coca leaf’s classification as a narcotic, a status it has held for over six decades. The review could lead to a historic shift in global drug policy and have far-reaching implications for the economies and cultural heritage of several South American nations.
The central issue is the distinction between the coca leaf in its natural form and cocaine, the illicit drug derived from it. Proponents of decriminalization argue that the leaf itself is not harmful and has been used for millennia for medicinal, religious, and nutritional purposes. They contend that the long-standing international ban, enshrined in the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, has not only failed to curb the illegal cocaine trade but has also criminalized traditional practices and stifled legitimate economic opportunities. The outcome of the WHO’s review, expected to be presented in late 2025, could reshape the global conversation around drug control, Indigenous rights, and economic development.
A Controversial Classification
The coca leaf has been a central part of Andean culture for thousands of years, used by Indigenous peoples for its mild stimulant properties, as a remedy for altitude sickness, and in religious ceremonies. Despite this long history of traditional use, the plant was placed in Schedule I of the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the most restrictive category, alongside cocaine and heroin. This classification effectively mandated the prohibition of coca leaf chewing and other traditional uses within 25 years of the convention coming into force.
The decision to classify the coca leaf so restrictively was based on a 1950s UN report that has since been criticized for its lack of scientific rigor and cultural understanding. The report concluded, without substantial evidence, that coca chewing was a form of cocaine addiction. Andean nations, particularly Bolivia and Peru, have long contested this classification, arguing that it unfairly conflates a culturally significant plant with a dangerous narcotic. Previous attempts to challenge the ban and initiate a scientific review of the coca leaf’s properties have been largely unsuccessful, often meeting with resistance from the United States and other Western countries.
The Renewed Push for Re-evaluation
The current effort to decriminalize the coca leaf gained significant momentum in July 2023, when Bolivia formally requested that the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence conduct a critical review of the plant’s scheduling. This request was officially accepted, and the WHO began the review process on November 30, 2023, with strong support from Colombia. This marks the first time in decades that the coca leaf is undergoing a formal scientific re-evaluation at the international level.
Timeline for a Potential Policy Shift
The WHO’s review process is multi-staged and involves gathering data, consulting with experts, and holding public hearings. A key milestone will be a second public hearing in October 2025, after which the critical review report will be finalized. The WHO’s recommendations will then be presented to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the body responsible for making changes to the international drug treaties. The earliest that the CND could vote on a potential re-scheduling of the coca leaf would be at its reconvened session in December 2025, though a vote in March 2026 is considered more likely.
Arguments for Decriminalization
The case for decriminalizing the coca leaf rests on several key arguments, ranging from economic development and Indigenous rights to a fundamental rethinking of the global “war on drugs.”
Economic and Industrial Potential
Advocates for decriminalization see significant economic potential in a regulated, legal market for coca-leaf products. Colombia’s foreign minister, Laura Sarabia, has pointed to the possibility of using the coca leaf in industrial applications such as fertilizers and beverages. For Bolivia, a country facing a severe economic crisis, the global decriminalization of the coca leaf could open up new revenue streams and reduce its dependence on the illicit cocaine trade. The country’s state-regulated coca business already generates an estimated $279 million annually, a figure that could be significantly boosted by international trade.
Indigenous Rights and Cultural Heritage
A central tenet of the decriminalization movement is the protection of Indigenous rights and cultural heritage. Bolivian Vice-President David Choquehuanca has argued that the WHO’s review must incorporate the perspectives and traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples. For these communities, the coca leaf is not a drug but a sacred plant that is integral to their cultural identity. The current international ban is seen as a violation of their rights and a remnant of a colonial-era mindset that failed to recognize the cultural significance of the plant.
A New Approach to Drug Policy
The push to decriminalize the coca leaf is also part of a broader critique of the global war on drugs. Officials in Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producer, have been particularly vocal in their assertions that the decades-long, prohibitionist approach has been a failure. They argue that the ban on the coca leaf has done little to stop the production and trafficking of cocaine, while fueling violence, deforestation, and the marginalization of rural communities. By decriminalizing the leaf, they contend, governments can create legal alternatives for coca farmers and focus law enforcement efforts on the actual criminal organizations that profit from the illicit drug trade.
The Path Forward
The WHO’s critical review of the coca leaf is a landmark development that could lead to the most significant change in international drug policy in decades. However, the path to decriminalization is not without its challenges. There is still likely to be opposition from countries that remain committed to a strict prohibitionist approach to drug control. The outcome of the review will depend on the scientific evidence presented and the political will of the member states of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
For the Andean nations leading this charge, the stakes are high. They are seeking not only to create new economic opportunities but also to reclaim a vital part of their cultural heritage that has been stigmatized for over half a century. The WHO’s review offers a long-awaited opportunity to right what they see as a historic wrong and to chart a new, more nuanced course in global drug policy.
