Wicked Problem / Wicked Opportunity

NB & Full disclosure - This post is definitely not about promoting the use of cocaine (as we know it) but putting into perspective the American 50 years failed War on Drugs and I do not consume such product. Even more important is the impact and the lack of creativity in addressing the root of the ongoing conflict in Colombia.

On July 14, 1969 the USA will be celebrating a 50 years crusade - AKA the War on Drugs! Five decades ago, the U.S. government declared a "war on drugs." From the rise and fall of kingpins to current efforts to interdict and stamp out drugs, follow events so far:

When Coca (amongst other drugs) became a Wicked Problems!

July 14, 1969: In a special message to Congress, President Richard Nixon identifies drug abuse as "a serious national threat." Citing a dramatic jump in drug-related juvenile arrests and street crime between 1960 and 1967, Nixon calls for a national anti-drug policy at the state and federal level.

June 1971: Nixon officially declares a "war on drugs," identifying drug abuse as "public enemy No. 1."

July 1973: Nixon creates the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to coordinate the efforts of all other agencies.

November 1975: Colombian police seize 600 kilograms of cocaine — the largest seizure to date — from a small plane. Drug traffickers respond with a vendetta, killing 40 people in one weekend in what's known as the "Medellin Massacre." The event signals the new power of Colombia's cocaine industry, headquartered in Medellin.

When Coca became a Wicked Opportunity!

Somewhere in Atlanta (1886), pharmacist John Pemberton saw a Wicked Opportunity in using Coca leaves in the first soda drink which eventually became one of the most recognized drink and global American icon (Coca Cola). Coca-Cola revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2018 was $31.856B.

The first question that comes to mind is - Why would the USA continue this war (mostly) in Colombia while one of the most famous American icon uses the same plant. Several other products, that contains coca, are now consumed in the USA and around the world.

I remember my first experience with Coca (not cocaine) - years ago in Peru drinking a Coca tea to deal with altitude. Influenced by media, we believe that the little bit of cocaine in the plant would actually create some kind of buzz but you soon realize that you can eat a whole bag of leaves without any adverse effects (well maybe stomach aches). It's important to note that this probably one of the only plant that has received a blessing from the Pope.

Yes Wine Mariani was also known as - Vin Mariani — The Cocaine-Laced Wine Loved By Popes, Thomas Edison, And Ulysses S. Grant.

Other than sniffing it, it looks like, similar to what the cannabis industry is now experiencing, that coca is a Wicked Opportunity. As Coca Cola quickly understood in the early 1900 is ...take the cocaine (not the one that you see on the street) out of the plant....et voila you have a Big Business! Coca is being used for many medical and nutritional purposes outside of the USA but it looks like the War on Drugs is far more interesting.

Here is my proposal to a Wicked Problem!

Let's just focus on Colombia where the Drug Lords have made this a great business at the cost of many life (those who cultivate, those who consume, and the illegal business around it). On that topic this book 'ZeroZeroZero' Argues Cocaine Is Everywhere from Roberto Saviano offers an interesting investigation in the world of cocaine.

Based on the public data released by the UN, Colombia produces close to 832,500 Mt de Coca. Based on markets and efforts to control the exports of cocaine, the price of leaves in 25 kg bags is +/- $20 USD which means that organize crime is investing on a yearly basis +/- $666 million of cash in the local economy.

Public Policy Proposal for the US government!

1) Let's create a Public-Private mechanism for the purchase of coca in order to compete with the only purchaser - Organized Crime. This represents less than 10% of the total cost of the USA War on Drugs. With more than 1.9 billion servings of Coca Cola are sold each day in 200 countries a small levy on each serving would easily cover the cost of competing.

2) The government policy would offer two options for coca growers

a) Sell all coca production to this new entity, or

b) Crops will be destroyed and farmers would not receive compensation.

3) Since this small amount of ¨cocaine¨ seems to be an issue, let's remove it and use this medical herbs to make breads, medical products, liquor, and much more opportunities.

If there is a future from coca, markets are the one that will drive politics. Cannabis is definitely a great example. Money generated from purchase and sells could be use to support communities in Colombia and the region to diversify their crops, focus on food security, and invest in sustainable infrastructures.