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Peru farmers push alternative coca products

Associated Press

Farmers in Peru are extolling the virtues of beer, wine and candies made with coca in an attempt to erase the stigma attached to the Andean leaf used to make cocaine.

Dozens of vendors, growers and buyers gathered Wednesday for a fair promoting the coca leaf — which is traditionally chewed or consumed in tea in the Andes — and products made from it.

"Many people in Lima think the coca leaf is a drug. That's what they've tried to make us believe," said former congresswoman and coca farmer Elsa Malpartida. "But now we are showing them its bounty. We are giving free coca to the people and saying it is not bad in its natural state."

The leaf was chewed by nobles in Peru's Inca empire and is considered sacred in Andean lore.

Farmers also backed calls by Bolivian President Evo Morales, a former coca grower himself, to remove the plant from the United Nations' list of prohibited drugs.

"I'd like to reiterate this humble, sincere request that a historical error be rectified, while also reiterating my commitment to a frontal assault on cocaine and drug trafficking," Morales said Wednesday at a U.N. narcotics conference in Vienna.

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# alfredo orbezo pinan says :
12 April, 2009 [ 01:04 ]

alfredo orbezo pinan agree orbecargo peru sac

# alfredo orbezo piñan says :
11 May, 2009 [ 13:32 ]

Cowardly attack - Peru
       My name is Alfredo orbezo Piñan informed and I leave all my friends and family that I'm being attacked by a cowardly and post insulting ads labeled trafficker thief, homosexual ... etc. and other adjectives as well as some of my relatives and I am sure that the reason for these attacks are being generated by a cargo logistics company located in San Isidro who do as unfair competition by questioning my reputation and Peru and that no orbecargo is a healthy you feel sick to compete with customers who wish to suggest that company information is communicated to the company orbecargo to give them details of this company that is careful and dirincri who already have knowledge and possible that in these coming days will bring a lawsuit for damages that are causing me ask time and hang a thousand apologies to all my clients now that we are unfortunately. causing

atte

ALFREDO ORBEZO Piñan

# Rene says :
17 May, 2009 [ 20:09 ]

Johanna, when you're ignorant about the origin and production process of cocaine, you need to stay out of the discussion about the coca plant. First look up some more information about the coca plant, cocaine and the relationship between the two and then come back.

# carlos says :
18 May, 2009 [ 21:15 ]

alfredo orbezo pinan get out of this page your comments are garbage

# Genaro Pereira says :
23 May, 2009 [ 13:06 ]

 I wold like to try those products from coca leaf  we have  to erase the stigma attached to the Andean leaf used to make cocaine.

# jazmine says :
26 May, 2009 [ 18:58 ]

To tell you the truth orbezo piñan is kwon as drug dealer in Huanuco peruvian jungle at Tingo Maria where is Alfrerdo Orbezo Piñan is from.
DEA and PERUVIAN ANTINARCOTIC should be investigate those allegates

# Jesus Gutierrez says :
17 June, 2009 [ 17:07 ]

This page is for coca as alternative medicine or other use , I do not see how someone attack Mr Piñan , I thinks Mr . Orbezo Piñan is trying to hide something , Peruvian police has to investigate this person

# Mario Leon says :
23 June, 2009 [ 15:09 ]

MR ALFREDO ORBEZO THIS IS NOT A HOMOSEXUAL SITE DO NOT WRITE MORE COMENTS ABOUT YOUR HOMOSEXUALS FRIENDS , TH WE ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN ALTERNATIVE COCA USE .

# Kevin says :
8 July, 2009 [ 01:19 ]

Coca for medicine use is great

# Karen says :
7 September, 2009 [ 15:05 ]

those guys are sick

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