Pope Francis to chew coca leaves during visit to Bolivia

[Anti Federalist]

Pope Francis to chew coca leaves during visit to Bolivia – minister

http://rt.com/news/270682-pope-francis-coca-bolivia/

Pope Francis has made an unexpected request for his upcoming trip to Bolivia – he wants to chew coca leaves, the natural source of cocaine, according to a government official. Bolivia says it will “await the Holy Father” with the "sacred" leaves.

Culture Minister Marko Machicao told state broadcasters that the Bolivian government “offered [the Pope] coca tea or something for the altitude” on his upcoming visit.

But the pontiff apparently has his sights on chewing coca leaves, which have been used by local people to ward off the effects of altitude for centuries. They are also believed to help with muscle pain and stave off hunger and thirst, and can be used for medicinal and food purposes.

"He has specifically requested that he wants to chew coca, so we will be awaiting the Holy Father with the sacred coca leaf," Machicao said.

The pope will also receive “complimentary cakes and products derived from the coca leaf” during his visit, according to a statement from Bolivia's Communications Ministry.

The pontiff isn't the first high-level visitor to be given a tasty treat involving coca leaves. Just last year, Bolivia gave UN chief Ban Ki-moon a 'coca cake' for his 70th birthday.

The use of coca leaves, the main ingredient in cocaine, is prohibited in much of the world. However, it is legal in Bolivia and other Andean nations.

Many in Bolivia, including President Evo Morales, defend the use of coca leaves and consider it a sacred plant.

In 2013, the Bolivian government successfully petitioned the United Nations for special permission for coca growing and its lawful uses within its borders.

Morales supports a “social control” policy of the leaves, enforcing a cap of 2,500 square meters of cultivation per family.

Two decades ago, a World Health Organization report said there were “no negative health effects” from coca use in leaf form. Those findings were shelved, however, due to US pressure.

The pope is scheduled to arrive in Bolivia on July 8, as part of a Latin America tour. He will also visit Ecuador and Paraguay while speaking out in defense of the poor.

[Warlord]

Ha Ha

[Sola_Fide]

In 2013, the Bolivian government successfully petitioned the United Nations for special permission for coca growing and its lawful uses within its borders.

The UN has a drug policy.

[twomp]

[tod evans]

This is a good thing.

I'm glad the Pope is thumbing his nose at US/UN drug policy.

[parocks]

Is this true or a joke? This Pope seems awesome.

[Ronin Truth]

Have Francis experience some Ayahuasca on his visit ... That would really rock his RCC world.


https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...&ved=0CBEQBSgA

[nobody's_hero]

It'll be funny if he spits it out. I don't even like to eat salad.

[Sola_Fide]

Is this true or a joke? This Pope seems awesome.

This is Rome's new ploy to get people excited about getting on the hamster wheel of religious works again. "Oh this Pope is cool, so I will believe all the nutty things that Rome tells me to believe."

[Anti Federalist]

[parocks]

This is Rome's new ploy to get people excited about getting on the hamster wheel of religious works again. "Oh this Pope is cool, so I will believe all the nutty things that Rome tells me to believe."

Anything, at all, that doesn't really really suck these days = awesome.

In the last year or so, the amount of suck has gone up around 300%.

It's not that things were good, or mediocre and then sucked, it's that the level of suck that was always there has gone up 3X.

Things are obviously really really screwed up when the Pope seems like a cool guy that you'd want to hang out with, but, that's what it is, that's where we live.

[parocks]

Now we have patented artificial versions of all those things, which aren't any better, are less effective, are much more expensive, and cause people to go insane.

See: suboxone

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/south-ca...storm-roof-21/

The officer noted that Roof was becoming increasingly nervous. He searched Roof and found "orange strips" that Roof said were "suboxone," a Schedule 3 narcotic.

SUBOXONE Film is manufactured for Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc., Richmond, VA 23235 by MonoSol Rx LLC, Warren, NJ 07059.
This site is sponsored by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. and intended solely for residents of the United States only.
http://www.suboxone.com/