In a Policy Forum, Dawson White and colleagues argue that international drug policy must distinguish between the coca leaf – a sacred plant long cultivated in South America – and its purified chemical derivative, cocaine. The World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) is now reassessing the plant’s status, which, according to the authors, presents a rare opportunity to realign global drug policy with scientific evidence and Indigenous rights. Currently, the coca bush is classified under international law as a Schedule I drug, a group that also includes cocaine and heroin. While these drugs have a well-documented history of addiction and harm, the coca leaf has served for millennia as a mild, nonaddictive stimulant and an important element of Andean and Amazonian cultural life. Moreover, research in both biological and social sciences confirms the coca leaf’s safety and cultural significance, underscoring its profound difference from cocaine. Under the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, all species of the coca genus were indiscriminately banned, effectively criminalizing the traditions and livelihoods of more than 11 million Indigenous and mestizo people. This legal framework not only stigmatized cultural practices but also stifled scientific study of the coca plant. Given the ECDD’s forthcoming recommendation, White et al. call for a reevaluation of the plant that recognizes traditional use, alongside scientific evidence, which could lead to more just and robust policies that respect both cultural heritage and scientific understanding. “Descheduling coca would correct a long-standing scientific and legal misclassification, uphold the rights of Indigenous and other coca-growing communities, and enable evidence-based regulation informed by traditional knowledge,” write the authors.

Gabrielle Tayac, Associate Professor, History and Art History, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), received funding for the project: “INCL: Indigenous America 250 Community Engagement PHASE 2.”

The Pacific Marine Science Alliance Society (PMSA) has announced a three-year agreement with the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response Network (MEOPAR) designed to strengthen national ocean research collaboration across Canada’s three coasts. 

UBC is one of five member universities of the PMSA, which owns and operates the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, and works to advance marine and coastal research, education and sustainability.  

The new partnership, backed by $300,000 in funding from PMSA and MEOPAR, will help researchers better collaborate at regional, national and international levels to address crucial research challenges, including climate resilience, marine hazard prediction and sustainable ocean resource use. The collaboration will also prioritize Indigenous-led stewardship, student mobility and new international research partnerships.