Cocaine, an illegal recreational drug that is commonly insufflated, smoked, or injected, features a long and interesting history in its transition from medicinal herb to banned substance. For 1000s of years, South American indigenous people chewed the leaves of the coca plant, where cocaine is derived. The coca plant contained many nutrients necessary in the peoples'diet, in addition to alkaloids such as for order MDMA online instance cocaine. Scientists have discovered evidence of coca leaves buried with Peruvian mummies, suggesting the important cultural role leaves from the coca plant played in ancient South American society.
When the Spanish conquered South America, they initially labeled the act of chewing the leaves as the work of the devil. However, when they realized the power of the leaves to offer a sense of strength and energy, they legalized and taxed the leaf, taking about 10% of the last value of each crop.
The isolation of the cocaine alkaloid did not occur until 1855, about two century later. German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke named the compound "erythoxyline" and wrote about his experiences in a scientific journal. Additional progress continued to happen and in 1863, the coca gained popularity. Angelo Mariani began marketing a wine in 1863 which have been treated with coca leaves. Additionally, small amounts of coca leaves were contained in the 1886 recipe for Coca-Cola. In 1879, cocaine became remedy for morphine addiction, in additional to its numbing properties for aspects of medical practice such as for instance ophthalmology.
As cocaine became more and more popular, with consumption in cigarettes, powders, and drinks, the addictive properties of the substance became clear. Usage of the substance gained racial momentum and was directly tied to prejudices of the time period. In 1914, the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act officially banned the sale and distribution of cocaine in the United States. However, registered individuals and businesses could still possess and distribute the drug. It was not until the 1970's that cocaine usage, in virtually any context besides a strict medical situation, became illegal.
In modern times, cocaine remains a popular recreational drug. In the 1980's, the development of crack cocaine introduced the drug to less affluent areas through its cheap prices. Currently, cocaine is the second most widely used illegal drug in the United States, following marijuana. In 2005 alone, the road value of the cocaine market exceeded $70 billion. Due to the illegal status, however, steep penalties await those who get caught during possession of cocaine.