Bolivia: Coca nation

You may think cocaine is integral to the American way of life, and you'd be right. But few American countries dare put the plant on their coat of arms, until now. Bolivia, the third largest producer of coca in the world, claims this is indeed something to be proud of:

"Laurel and olive branches should be replaced by branches of sacred ancient coca leaf, as a symbol of perseverance and the people's economy," says a proposal before the assembly that is overhauling Bolivia's constitution to guarantee more rights for the poor and the Indian majority.

The proposal says the laurel and olive branches are European symbols.

Coca would join a llama and a condor, animals native to the Bolivian Andes, on the coat of arms.

Leftist, indigenous president Evo Morales came to political prominence as a leader of rebellious coca farmer groups.

He aims to crack down on cocaine production while scaling back programs to eradicate coca crops and promoting legal commercial uses for the leaf in everything from toothpastes and candies to balms.

Coca toothpaste? I think he might be onto something here...