In Pursue of Cocaine Effects. Cocaine effects can be achieved by chewing coca leaves preferably mixed with an acerb ingredient (lime, for instance). The cocaine roll that it will make, should be kept in mouth (like when chewing tobacco) to suck its sap. Between cheek and gum the cocaine sap will be gradually absorbed by mouth and stomach structure and will give the desired cocaine effects. Another way to reach cocaine effects with coca leaves is to brew them and drink like any other tea. As a rule cocaine effects are reached when coca leaves are simply gulped down.

Coca leaf consumption supporters claim against proclaiming coca leaves as illegal drug equal to cocaine. When consumed only on its own, cocaine undergoes hydrolyzation which dramatically weakens cocaine effects. And only when used in combination with acerb ingredient it gets absorbed by the bloodstream. In general, oral absorption of cocaine lacks any strong effects, as it makes blood capillaries in mouth and stomach contract, and shrinks the absorption area, as well as it gets catabolized by liver and loses a major part of its effect. Ineffective and weak as it is when absorbed orally, cocaine leaves the traces of its metabolism in urine even after only one cup of coca leaf cocktail. Usually cocaine, taken orally, penetrates the bloodstream within about 30 minutes after being administered. And then absorbed is, as a rule, only one third part of the taken dose, though in controlled settings the absorption rate has proven to reach as high as 60 per cent. Due to this slow and gradual absorption rate of coca leafs, when administered orally, the peak of physiological and psychotropic cocaine effects are reached up to 60 minutes later. Given the slow arrival of these affects they, nevertheless, persist as long as 60 minutes after reaching their maximum. Opposite to popular opinion, that cocaine, taken through inhalation, has advantage over being taken perorally in the strength and length of its effect, the absorption level of the drug in both cases is within the range of 30 – 60 per cent. The only difference is in the speed at which the peak of cocaine effects is reached with inhalation. The average time span, within which the peak of physiological and psychotropic effect of cocaine is reached, in case of inhalation is 5-10 minutes, though, depending on person and/or settings, it may take up to 20 minutes for achieving the peak of psychotropic effects and up to 40 minutes – for physiological. The sustention span of psychotropic and physiological effects, in case of drug administered through nose inhalation, is up to 40-60 minutes after the maximum effect has been reached. Coca leaf brew (or mate de coca) used to be a traditional and most popular method of coca consumption in Peru and Bolivia, also recommended by coca producers themselves. Apart from its known cocaine effects, it is also used in strictly medical purposes for subduing some altitude sickness symptoms. The inhalation method of consumption has long been used South American native tribes particularly with the aim to boost energy, to prolong endurance and resist fatigue especially when hitting several-day long- distance pursuits. In the Journal of the AMA (American Medical Association) in 1986 was published an article, revealing the fact of dried coca leaves’ sale in the U.S. food stores as a brew of an “Inca Tea” , with an inscription on the package, claiming cocaine had been eliminated. The description in the article said that two cups of this health tea taken twice a day would regulate heart beat and elevate mood without any side effects. This statement, however did not stop the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) from removing the product from the shelves and confiscating several shipments in different states all over the United States.