Lyla Lindsey
Cocaine is a very expensive drug in Australia, with a single gram costing around $300 AUD. This is due to the distance that contraband must travel to reach the country, usually being flown or shipped in from South America. The drug is derived from the coca plant, which was transported to Europe, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia during colonial times. While the legality of coca plants in Australia is unclear, cocaine is illegal to use, possess, supply, or manufacture in New South Wales, and all Erythroxylaceae species are banned in NSW.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coca plant | Coca is a shrub or small tree that is native to South America |
| Erythroxylum australe, also known as the Australian cocaine shrub, is a variety of coca native to northern Australia | |
| Legality in Australia | Coca plants were available in Australia before the 1925 Geneva Convention banned cocaine as an addictive drug |
| It is illegal to grow coca in New South Wales | |
| Coca bush is permitted in Australia under Standard 1.4.4 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code | |
| Coca-derived substances | Cocaine is derived from coca leaves |
| Crack is a particularly pure form of freebase cocaine | |
| Cocaine in Australia | Cocaine is the second most used illicit drug in Australia |
| Cocaine is expensive in Australia due to the distance from source countries |
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What You'll Learn
Coca plant leaves have been chewed for millennia
Coca leaves have been chewed by indigenous Andean people for millennia, dating back to at least the 6th century AD during the Moche period, and even earlier, with evidence of coca leaves and paraphernalia found in ancient Peru from around 2000 BC. The practice of coca leaf chewing, called "acullico", involves keeping a saliva-soaked ball of coca leaves in the mouth along with an alkaline substance to extract the cocaine from the leaves. The leaves contain the active cocaine alkaloid, which is released through chewing or consumed in a powder form.
Coca leaf chewing was originally restricted to special ceremonies and was considered sacred, with the plant viewed as having divine origins. During the Inca rule, coca use evolved from elite ritual to widespread use, deeply integrating into Inca society for labour, religion, and trade. The Incas valued coca so highly that they colonized new lands to cultivate it.
The traditional method of coca leaf chewing has been practised daily by millions of people in the Andes without problems and is considered sacred within indigenous cultures. The leaves act as a mild stimulant and help suppress hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue, making them especially useful for sustaining labourers. Coca leaves also aid in acclimatization to high altitudes, which is why they are commonly used in countries like Bolivia and Peru, which have high-altitude regions.
However, the practice of coca leaf chewing has also faced criticism and efforts to abolish it. The inclusion of coca leaf in the 1961 Single Convention equated coca with cocaine, treating them the same despite their differences in effects and traditional cultural uses. The INCB's 2007 annual report called on countries to prohibit coca leaf chewing, citing concerns about its negative effects and association with cocaine. Nevertheless, there are ongoing discussions and amendments, such as Bolivia's, to differentiate between the recreational and traditional uses of coca and find a more culturally sensitive approach.
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Coca plants are difficult to cultivate
Coca plants, from which cocaine is derived, are native to the humid, tropical climates and specific altitudes of the Andean regions of South America. While coca plants were transported to other regions of the world in the past, they are notoriously difficult to cultivate.
Coca is any of the four cultivated plants in the family Erythroxylaceae, native to western South America. Coca leaves contain cocaine, which acts as a stimulant when chewed or consumed as tea. Coca plants are shrub-like bushes with curved branches and oval-shaped leaves featuring distinct curved lines. They produce small yellowish-white flowers that develop into red berries.
The difficulty in cultivating coca plants outside of South America is further evidenced by the fact that despite its proximity to South America, Australia does not produce cocaine locally. Instead, cocaine is imported into Australia, which contributes to its high cost in the country. While Erythroxylum australe, commonly known as the Australian cocaine shrub, is native to northern Australia and contains an alkaloid similar to cocaine, there has been little interest in cultivating this plant for cocaine production.
The complex evolutionary history of the coca plant has resulted in uncertainties in its classification system, making it challenging to distinguish between different species and varieties. This is important because there is a need to differentiate between coca plants grown for the illegal cocaine market and those with cultural and medicinal significance for Indigenous communities.
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Coca plants are illegal in NSW
The history of coca in Australia dates back to the colonial era when it was transported to the continent, along with other regions such as Europe, India, and Southeast Asia. In the 1920s, the Dutch colony of Java became the world's leading manufacturer and exporter of coca leaves to the Netherlands. However, the cultivation and use of coca declined with the 1925 Geneva Convention, which banned cocaine as an addictive substance.
Despite the historical presence of coca in Australia, it is currently illegal to grow coca plants in NSW. This is due to the harmful nature of the substance derived from the plant, cocaine. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant and anesthetic that has been associated with various adverse health effects, including cardiac and cerebrovascular disease, psychosis, and fetal development issues. As a result, it is illegal to use, possess, supply, or manufacture cocaine in NSW.
In addition to the legal restrictions, the challenging cultivation process of coca plants may also contribute to their illegality in NSW. Coca plants require specific environmental conditions, such as high moisture and low atmospheric pressure, which are typically found in the humid Amazon region. While coca can grow in other regions, the process is extremely challenging and may not be feasible for cultivation on a large scale.
Furthermore, the high demand for cocaine in Australia, with a gram costing around $300 AUD, has led to a thriving importation business. Despite the potential presence of the Australian cocaine shrub, Erythroxylum australe, in northern parts of NSW, traffickers find it more convenient and profitable to import cocaine rather than produce it locally. This shrub contains meteloidine, an alkaloid similar to cocaine, but it has not gained significant interest as an alternative source. As a result, the cultivation of coca plants remains illegal in NSW, and the importation and sale of cocaine continue to be the primary source of the drug in Australia.
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Cocaine is derived from coca plants
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that is derived from the coca plant. It is obtained from the leaves of the plant, which is native to South America. The active chemical in cocaine, benzoylmethylecgonine, was first isolated in 1855 by German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke, and the drug was later purified and named cocaine in 1860. By the end of the 19th century, cocaine was being used in medicines and beverages, such as the soft drink Coca-Cola. However, due to its addictive properties and toxic effects, cocaine was banned for use in medicines and beverages in the United States in 1914.
The coca plant, or Erythroxylum coca, is a woody plant that grows in the humid Amazon region, where it can reach heights of up to 4,950 feet due to the high moisture and low atmospheric pressure. While it is possible to grow coca outside of South America, it is not easily cultivated in other regions. This is because coca is a woody plant, unlike other illicit plants such as marijuana, which is herbaceous and easier to grow in various environments.
In Australia, cocaine is a very expensive drug due to the country's distance from South America, the main source of the drug. Despite the high prices, there is a demand for cocaine in Australia, with around 4.5% of the population having used it in the past year. This has led some to question why traffickers do not simply grow coca plants in Australia instead of importing the drug.
One possible explanation is that growing coca in Australia would be challenging due to the plant's specific environmental requirements. Additionally, there is an endemic Australian plant, Erythroxylum australe, which is related to the coca plant and contains a similar alkaloid, meteloidine. However, this plant is illegal to grow in New South Wales, and there has been little interest in cultivating it for cocaine production. Overall, it seems that the difficulty of cultivating coca plants and the legal risks associated with growing similar species contribute to the continued importation of cocaine into Australia.
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Cocaine is illegal in Australia
The Office of Drug Control in Australia has a list of laws and regulations that apply to drugs, and drug laws vary depending on the state or territory. For example, in the ACT, individuals found with small amounts of cocaine may be issued a fine or referred to a drug diversion program. However, any possession beyond the allowable limit can still result in significant legal consequences under the criminal justice system. It is also illegal to administer cocaine to another person, yourself, or an animal without proper authorisation.
The high cost of cocaine in Australia, with a gram costing around $300 AUD, has raised questions about why the drug is not produced locally. Cocaine is sourced from the coca plant, which can be grown outside of South America. However, the coca plant is not easily cultivated, and the process of extracting cocaine from the plant is complex. As a result, it is easier for Australian drug traffickers to import cocaine rather than produce it locally.
In addition to the coca plant, Australia has a native shrub called Erythroxylum australe, which is commonly known as the Australian cocaine shrub. This plant contains an alkaloid similar to cocaine and is endemic to northern Australia. However, it is illegal to grow this plant in New South Wales, and all Erythroxylaceae species are banned in NSW.
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Frequently asked questions
Coca plants are illegal in Australia. Coca leaves are used to make cocaine, which was banned in Australia by the Geneva Convention in 1925.
Yes, it is illegal to use, possess, supply or manufacture cocaine in Australia.
Erythroxylum australe, also known as the Australian cocaine shrub, is a native plant in Australia that contains 0.8% meteloidine, an alkaloid similar to cocaine. It is illegal to grow in New South Wales.
