The History of Cocaine

When talking about cocaine, there are discussions about cocaine effects, forms of cocaine such a crack cocaine and how much it is valued on the street. No one really asks the question of where did it come from. We assume that cocaine comes from Columbia and their cartels which are situated in South America. No one has discussed how did it come to us and if it was a recent discovery. I am here to provide the curiosity seekers some answers.

Where Does Cocaine Originate?

Cocaine comes from the coca plant which is mostly found in the mountain ranges of South America. These ranges are in Argentina, Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. The coca plant  resembles a blackthorn bush and grows to a height of 7-10 feet. The leaves are thin, oval and opaque. These leaves are the source of cocaine. This plant has been around since the beginning of time. There have been mummies found from around 3000 BC with coca plant leaves in their tombs. The Inca empire documented the effects of cocaine from the coca leaf. Then along came the Spaniards who transported these leaves back to Europe but it really didn’t become popular until psychiatrists and doctors published journals about their psychedelic effects.

Remind Me About The Effects

Cocaina which is spanish for cocaine was popular in elixirs and medicines in the late 1800s going into the early 1900s. The original form coming from the coca leaf was known to boost energy, relieve fatigue and curb your appetite. Even Coca Cola got into the act with its original formula actually containing some cocaine. Originally, people chewed the leaves and made teas. It wasn’t very strong but fell nice.

As more research went into it, doctors and chemists figured out that cocaine could be used as an anesthetic in eye, nose, and throat surgeries. It was found to constrict blood vessels and limit bleeding which was very useful in medicine back then. However, it eventually was synthesized into the drug we know today as crack. Then you add some Hollywood glamor and an addiction was born. The coca plant has even been genetically modified to resist chemicals which the united states used to destroy the plant.

How To Make Cocaine

I will not give you a step by step process on how to do it but the gist of the process is as follows. First, you get a bunch of fresh coca leaves and extractit using chemicals that can convert the leaf from liquid to a solid. Purify the solid and you get the intended product. Yes it is vague but I don’t want it to be a guide for people to try it at home.

Seriously, have you tried cocaine?