[More Info] Evidence of coca chewing by people in northwestern Peru. Archaeologists have found both chewed leaves and calcium-rich rocks that would have provided the lime that is used to this day in conjunction with coca chewing. Evidence suggests it was produced as a community activity at about the same time as systematic farming was being developed in the region. 1

Coca chewing is practiced throughout South America. Coca is believed to be a gift from God. 2

[More Info] Ritual bundle found in a funerary site in SW Bolivia contains remnants of DMT, Harmine, Bufotenine, Cocaine, and possibly Psilocin, along with snuff tablets, a snuff tube, llama bone scrapers, and a head band. The find is notable because of the presence of a number of psychoactive chemicals, as well as the combined presence of DMT and Harmine. 3

Coca plantations are operated by Incas in Peru.

First hand accounts of coca use made their way back to Europe. Amerigo Vespucci (1505), G Frenandez de Oviedo (1535), and Nicholas Monardes (1565). 4

Incan Coca plantations are taken over by holders of Spanish land grants. Spanish tax laws are revised to allow land owners to make their tax payments in coca leaves. 4

The Bishop of Cuzco tithes coca, taking 1/10 of the value of each crop in taxes.

Inca Empire. Pizarro invades and destroys the Inca Empire (1553); Coca production in Peru expands quickly causing a glut of leaf on the market which in turn precipitated a drop in the price of coca. Nicolas Monardes reports an increase in coca chewing particularly among lower classes of Andean Indians, as traditional controls disappear (1569). 4

Monardes' text on Coca is first translated into other European languages from Spanish; Latin (1574), Italian (1576), English (1577). 4

Forced laborors working in the Spanish silver mines were kept well supplied with Coca leaves. Roughly 8% of the Europeans living in Peru were involved in the Coca trade. 4

Europe. Monardes brings coca leaves to Europe; unlike tobacco, it fails to generate interest or use, probably because most coca leaves lost their potency during the long voyage. 5

Abraham Cowley writes a poem titled "A Legend of Coca". This is the first independent mention of coca in English literature.

Coca is first mentioned in a materia medica, Institutiones Medicae, written by Dutch physician and botanist Herman Boerhaave.

Companion to the Botanical Magazine. 4 [More Info] First accurate drawing of Coca appears in popular English press. The illustration by Sir William Hooker, director of the Kew gardens, was published in

Coca tinctures used in throat surgery. 4

Cocaine first extracted from Coca leaves. 4

Cocaine was first isolated as the active ingredient of the Coca plant by Albert Niemann of the University of Gottigen in Germany.

Merck produces 1/4 pound of cocaine. 4

Angelo Mariani patents a preparation of coca extract and Bordeaux wine called Vin Mariani. 6

Seeds from the commercial variety of Coca arrived at Kew Gardens.

Vin Mariani (Coca wine) is for sale throughout France, containing 6 mg cocaine per ounce of wine. Exported Vin Mariani contained 7.2 mg per ounce to compete with the higher cocaine content of American competitors. 4

Parke,Davis manufactures a fluid extract of coca. 4

Race walkers in England chew Coca leaves to improve their performance. 4

Merck produces 3/4 pound of Cocaine. 4

German physician Theodor Aschenbrandt administered cocaine to members of the Bavarian army to enhanced their endurance on manoeurvres. Aschenbrandt's study published in a German medical journal would be read by young Viennese neurologist, Sigmund Freud.

Cocaine's use as a local anesthetic in eye surgery is popularized. 4

On Coca in which he recommends the use of cocaine to treat a variety of conditions including morphine addiction. Freud publishesin which he recommends the use of cocaine to treat a variety of conditions including morphine addiction. 4

Merck produces 3,179 pounds of Cocaine. 4

Merck produces 158,352 pounds of Cocaine. 4

[More Info] Coca-Cola is first introduced by John Pemberton, containing cocaine laced syrup and caffeine.

Parke,Davis starts to manufacture refined cocaine. 4

[Details] Richard Willstaetter first to synthesize cocaine. 7 Willstätter's synthesis derived cocaine from tropinone.

Coca-Cola removed Coca from their formula. 4

The expiration of a patent on the cocaine extraction process increases demand for coca. 6

Snorting cocaine becomes popular. 4

[Details] Pure Food and Drug Act is passed, regulating the labelling of products containing Alcohol, Opiates, Cocaine, and Cannabis, among others. The law went into effect Jan 1, 1907 8 The act required correct labelling of products containing "alcohol, morphine, opium, cocaine, heroin, alpha or beta eucaine, chloroform, cannabis indica, chloral hydrate, or acetanilide, or any derivative or preparation of any such substances contained therein."

First cases of nasal damage from Cocaine snorting are written of in medical literature. 4

First cases of nasal damage from Cocaine snorting are seen in hospitals. 4

[Details] U.S. government publication reports 5,000 fatal poisonings in one year, mostly related to opium and cocaine. 9 Original data likely from the 1912 publication "Digest of Laws and Regulations in Force in the United States Relating to the Possession, Use, Sale, and Manufacture of Poisons and Habit-Forming Drugs", by Martin I. Wilbert and Murray G. Motter.

[More Info] The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act is passed, regulating and imposing a tax upon the sale of Opium, Heroin and Cocaine for the first time. The Act took effect Mar 1, 1915. 2

Japan is the world's leading cocaine producer (23.3%) followed by the United States (21.3%), Germany (15%), U.K. (9.9%), France (8.3%). 4

Cocaine use subsides in the U.S. One Bureau of Narcotics supervisor in New York City reported in 1940 that they "rarely hear of cocaine being used". 6

The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act is passed. Part II of this is the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) which defines a scheduling system for drugs. It places most of the known hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, psilocin, mescaline, peyote, cannabis, & MDA) in Schedule I. It places coca, cocaine and injectable methamphetamine in Schedule II. Other amphetamines and stimulants, including non-injectable methamphetamine are placed in Schedule III.

Freebase cocaine first developed (probably in California). It would soon be popularized by dealers and glamorized by Hollywood media.

Wholesale cost of 1 kg of cocaine is $55,000. 2

Wholesale cost of 1 kg cocaine is $25,000. 2

Freebase cocaine becomes popular.

[More Info] Entheogenesis Australis Symposium [Details] Held at Melbourne University's Copland Theatre in Australia, this event featured presentations from Michael Bock, Vince Cakic, David Caldicott, Deva Daricha, Richard King, Anna Kokavec, Tim Payne, Julian Raxworthy, Des Tramacchi, Torsten Wiedemann. Topics covered included psychoactive mushrooms, shamanism, Ephedra, wine, Tabernanthe iboga, absinthe, toot, books on psychoactives, the ketamine model of schizophrenia, and harm reduction.