Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit
The McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, in collaboration with Wade Davis, hosted the Wisdom of the Leaf Coca Summit during February 3 โ 7, 2025 at the breathtaking Willka T’ika retreat center, nestled in the Sacred Valley of Peru.
Join us in making a difference! Download and Read our Open letter to support the upcoming review of the scheduling of the coca leaf.
The letter is being adressed to the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, regarding their upcoming review of the coca leafโread and add your signature to support change. The letter should be sent to the following email: ecddsecretariat@who.int
Speakers and Recordings
This summit promises profound discussions on the past, present, and especially, the future of coca. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from indigenous leaders, researchers, and policymakers about the potential of coca in medicine, food, culture, and policy.
speakers & recordings
Andy Weil
Medical doctor
The Sacred Coca Plant, an 8.000 Year History and The Fight to Liberate it
Anthony Henman, PhD
Anthropologist and author: Mama Coca
Pharmacology 101: Why the Effects of Coca Are Different to Cocaine
Carmen Posada Monroy
Founder: Futuro Coca Festival
The Value of Understanding the Cultural Significance of the Coca Plant in Regulatory Debates
Caroline S. Conzelman, PhD
Teaching Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
Coca Leaf, Participatory Democracy, and Critical Drug Pedagogy in Bolivia: Lessons from an Ethnographic Journey
Clemmie James
Environmental Justice & Drug Policy Campaigner
The Case for Coca and Climate Justice
Daniel Montoya, PhD
Founder: Khoka Project
Khoka Project: Re-imagining the Coca Plant at the Intersection of Art, Science, and Technology
David Choquehuanca
President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
Bolivia's Pioneering work with the WHO
David Restrepo, PhD
CEO-Producer at ThisTopia Studios and Senior Researcher at CESED (Universidad de los Andes)
Colombia's Legal Coca Market
Dora Lucila Troyano Sรกnchez
Ecologist, Founder Coca for Peace Alliance
An Evaluation of the use of the Coca Leaf
Imikรฃ Tarirรบ
Tubu Hummurimassa Tribe
Traditional Discussion of the Story and Future of Coca
Jaime Pumarejo
Ex-Mayor Barranquilla, Colombia
A Pragmaticโs Context and Roadmap for Policy Reform and Public Perception
Jaison Pรฉrez Villafaรฑa
Indigenous activist
The Sacred Coca Leaf: An Arhuaco Perspective
Juan Carlos Alurralde Tejada
General Secretary of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
Bolivia's Pioneering work with the WHO
Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch, PhD
Founding Director: Global Drug Policy Program OSF
Coca Regulation: Overcoming Obstacles and Advancing Global Reform
Maria Alejandra Vรฉlez, PhD
Professor of Economics, Bogotรก
Opportunities and Regulatory Challenges for Coca Leaf in the Context of the Ongoing War on Cocaine
Martin Jelsma, PhD
Drug Policy Reform Specialist
Descheduling Coca: Challenges and Outcome Scenarios of the WHO Review
Nilda Callanapaupa, M.A
Activist and Founder Centro de Culturas Indigenas del Perรบ
Coca Leaves in the Andean Culture
Oscar Alejandro Pรฉrez Escobar, PhD
Evolutionary biologist and Taxonomist
Demystifying the World's Most Misunderstood Plant: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Science
Ricardo Soberรณn
Drug Policy Expert
A Political Overview on Public Policies Towards Drugs, Coca and Cocaine From a Human Rights Approach
Steve King, PhD
Ethnobotanist
Potential Development of Coca Leaf as New Botanical Medicines
Susana Mejรญa, PhD
Environmentalist
Khoka Project: Re-imagining the Coca Plant at the Intersection of Art, Science, and Technology
Sponsors
Individuals
