The WHO says coca leaf isn’t very harmful—so why keep it on the hard drug list?

In most of the world, coca leaf is illegal, little understood, and largely associated with the cocaine it can be made into—a process that requires large quantities of leaves and dangerous chemicals.

But in the Andean countries where it grows—especially Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru—it is widely considered an effective natural remedy for altitude sickness and digestive complaints, while millions of people chew the bitter green leaves or drink it as a tea for its mild stimulant effect on a daily basis.

For indigenous communities in those countries, as well as in parts of Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela, coca consumption dates back thousands of years. The plant is revered for its medicinal properties and social role, including being key to many rituals.

The benefits of coca were recognized in an October report from the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (WHO ECCD), an independent panel of experts that advises on how to classify substances under the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

In the report, the WHO ECCD acknowledged the “antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties” tied to consuming the leaf, as well as “preclinical evidence supporting potential therapeutic applications.”

While the report highlighted the limited data available related to coca consumption, it accepted evidence of its ability to protect the liver, stem the development of diabetes, and suppress appetite. It added that “studies suggest coca leaf may modulate glucose metabolism, improve exercise tolerance, and support nutritional intake.”

In terms of its addictive properties, the report stated that studies have “found no evidence of tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, or compulsive patterns of use” and that coca chewing “was described as easily discontinued.”

Yet despite those findings, which were made public in early December, the WHO ECCD ultimately recommended that coca leaf remain a Schedule I narcotic under the 1961 treaty—a category that includes highly addictive and socially destructive substances including cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.