[tenpies]

> When I was in Peru coca tea was available everywhere for literally pennies.

Just for the sake of adding to this comparison: it takes 300 kilos of coca leaves to make 1 kilo of cocaine[1]. The coca leaf tea to cocaine analog, is somewhat like comparing extremely diluted orange juice (which has a natural amount of alcohol) with Everclear (96% proof).

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[1] And I'll note that 300:1 is the low end of the spectrum. I've seen ranges from 400:1 to 600:1 being more realistic.

[recuter]

I did say the tea did not get you high. Felt akin to a strong coffee or Red Bull if that. Really did help with the high altitude.

It is also considered sacred and traditional by the indigenous. Probably for that very reason. Yet even at these low concentrations, US officials frequently demand it be outlawed.

Unless you're a Canadian drug company.