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Divergent States

Dennis McKenna: The Chemistry Behind the Coca Leaf - The Many Faces of Coca Part Two

March 16, 2026·1h 3m
Episode Description from the Publisher

The Many Faces of Coca – Part Two In Part Two of the Many Faces of Coca series, 3L1T3 and Bryan sit down with renowned ethnopharmacologist Dennis McKenna to explore the science behind the coca leaf. Part One focused on history and politics with Wade Davis, this conversation turns to the biology and chemistry of the plant itself. What actually happens when coca is chewed? What compounds exist in the leaf besides cocaine? Why did human cultures independently domesticate coca multiple times? Den...

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