[bena]

Why would the information that Coca-Cola uses coca plants imply that they are a drug cartel?

They base their business off of the same plant as the drug cartels. They operate independently, and Coca-Cola isn't really going to do anything about the cartels. Or care what they do to coca farmers as long as they also get the part of the plant they care about. And since they don't need the cocaine, it's quite possible that Coca-Cola is made with the by-products of the cocaine extraction process.

Technically, we could have one without the other. Because each needs a part that the other does not. And I'm sure as long as it's cheap enough, Coca-Cola isn't going to question too hard about where its extract is source from.

And to be fair, Coca-Cola isn't above hiring paramilitaries to keep people in line.