Chavez defends use of coca leaves
From Times Wire Reports
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accepted a handful of coca leaves from his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales and chewed them during a summit meeting, saying “coca isn’t cocaine.”
“You know the strength that coca gives,” Chavez said. “I’ve really grown used to it every day in the morning.”
The socialist leader joined his Bolivian ally in defending the leaf, chewed by Andean Indians for centuries, while condemning its use in making cocaine.
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