This paper treats coca and cocaine as essentially export “commodities” rather than menacing drugs. This commodity perspective makes perfect sense for the period at hand, 1860-1950, from the years Andean coca-leaf first hit world markets to the beginnings of today’s circuits of illicit cocaine.
During this intervening century both were still seen as legitimate or even progressive articles of commerce. Taking coca and cocaine as goods--rather than singularly spiritual or pariah substances--may also temper some of the passionate thinking (and policies) that surround these Andean products today.
