Bolivian president Evo Morales has a 74 percent approval rating.
He has long opposed American eradication efforts and championed the coca leaf, which without significant processing has no mind-altering effects and is chewed here to mitigate hunger and increase stamina. He has pledged to push the foreign governments to open their markets to the many legal products that can be made from coca, like soap, shampoo, toothpaste and flour. He also wants to open markets to coca tea, which is legal and popular in the Andes.
"If there's one thing the international community should do, if only out of deference because he won the election, is to take seriously his arguments that coca products have a place in the international commodities market."
"One of our most important products is granola, fortified with coca. Right now, we are selling everything in Bolivia, but the hope is to sell in China."
"What we want to show is that the coca leaf is not just for cocaine."
