Exposing the Dangerous Missteps of Normalizing Coca Leaf Use in Colombia

In the verdant highlands of Colombia, an artisanal dye project named Tinta Dulce is attempting to rewrite the narrative around the coca leaf. What started as a creative experiment turning powdered green coca leaves into natural textile dyes now raises serious questions about the consequences of normalizing a plant that fuels one of the world’s most destructive drug trades.Is Rebranding Coca Leaves a Step Toward National Sovereignty—or a Dangerous Blind Spot?For years, the United States and Colombia have worked collaboratively to combat the proliferation of cocaine, a scourge that destabilizes communities, fuels global crime networks, and threatens the safety of...