Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety

Jump to Section

Jump to Section

Cocaine, also known as coke and blow, is a strong central nervous system stimulant commonly used as a recreational drug. It is an alkaloid extracted from the leaves of the coca plant (Erythroxylon coca) found mostly in western South America. Traditionally, cocaine has been ingested by chewing the leaves of the coca plant to reduce fatigue, boost energy, and curb appetite. Once isolated in the mid-19th century, western medicine began using it as a topical anesthetic and vasoconstricting agent. By the early 20th century, its abuse potential and addictive qualities became apparent, leading to early initiatives to regulate the drug. Today, cocaine is under international control but is still the second most-trafficked drug worldwide.

1. Overview

While the coca plant has a long history of folk use in Andean countries, the modern purified version of cocaine wasn’t extracted from the plant until 1860. By the late 1800s, it acquired medical use as an anesthetic and to reduce bleeding during surgery. Up until the turn of the century, cocaine was touted as a wonder drug capable of treating a wide variety of ailments. It appeared as the active ingredient in a variety of tonics, elixirs, and beverages, including the original Coca-Cola formulation.

Cocaine is consumed in a wide range of ways for its stimulating and euphoric effects. The effects last anywhere from five minutes to over an hour, depending on the route of administration. Due to its addictive potential and cardiovascular effects, cocaine is considered to be significantly more dangerous than other central nervous stimulants, including amphetamines.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid found in the leaves of the Erythroxylum coca plant. The Erythroxylum genus contains some 200 species, but only 17 of these can be used to produce cocaine. The coca plant is native to high elevation regions of South America, Mexico, Indonesia, and the West Indies. 

Clandestine laboratories convert the dried coca leaves (which contain up to 1% cocaine) into a coca paste, which they then use to create cocaine base and, ultimately, cocaine hydrochloride. Cocaine hydrochloride is the commonly encountered powdered form on the street that is usually snorted, but also injected or used orally. Cocaine HCl can be further converted into freebase crack cocaine, which is then smoked.

Street Names 

  • Coke
  • Blow
  • Snow
  • Crack (freebase form)
  • Powder
  • Coca
  • Flake
  • White
  • Powder
  • Rich man’s drug
  • Pearl
  • Yayo
  • Nose candy
  • White Horse

Scientific Name

The scientific name for cocaine is benzoylmethylecgonine. It is an ester of methylecognine and benzoic acid. In its chemical structure, cocaine consists of a hydrophobic and hydrophilic region. The hydrophobic region contains a benzene ring, while the hydrophilic region consists of a tertiary amine. This chemical structure allows it to easily cross the blood-brain barrier and exert its stimulating effects on the central nervous system.

Similar to scopolamine and atropine, cocaine is a nitrogen-containing bicyclic compound. It has no chemical similarities to the amphetamines, yet shares similar properties as an addictive central nervous stimulant. Cocaine exists in two enantiomeric forms. Enantiomers are compounds with the same chemical formula whicht differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms. Only l-cocaine occurs naturally and has significant pharmacological activity.

Forms & Ways of Consumption

Cocaine can be found on the street in a salt or base form. Each form differs in its production, appearance, and how it is consumed.

Salts

Salts are formed when the slightly alkaline cocaine alkaloid is extracted from the leaves and combined with acidic compounds, like hydrochloric acid. The hydrochloride salt is the most commonly encountered form on the street. It is a white, crystalline powder that is snorted or dissolved in water and injected. Cocaine salts are not smokeable because they easily degrade under heat. 

The hydrochloride salt is often adulterated with cutting agents to increase profit margins for the dealers. Such adulterants can include inert compounds such as talcum powder, cornstarch, and various sugars, as well as many active compounds like lidocaine, procaine, caffeine, amphetamine, strychnine, and levamisole (a deworming drug). 

Base

The base forms of cocaine include “freebase” and “crack,” which are the same chemical form but differ in their method of production. Freebase cocaine is produced by dissolving cocaine hydrochloride in water, then adding a strong base like ammonia under heat. An organic solvent like ether is then added to dissolve the cocaine base, which is extracted upon evaporation. “Crack” cocaine refers to a lower purity form of freebase cocaine. This form is made by dissolving cocaine hydrochloride in water, then adding baking soda or ammonia under heat to precipitate the cocaine base. 

Cocaine base dries from a soft mass into brittle, hard rocks that range in color from off-white to light brown. They are smoked out of a glass pipe and make a cracking sound when heated, hence the name “crack.”

Intranasally

Snorting the powdered form of cocaine (cocaine hydrochloride) is the most common method of consumption. When snorted, the cocaine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucus membranes in the nasal passages. After insufflation, the effects come on within five minutes and last approximately one hour.

Before being snorted, the cocaine is chopped finely and divided into “bumps” (35 mg) or “lines” (60–100 mg) on a flat surface. However, the actual dose of cocaine that is consumed depends on the amount of adulterant that has been added to the drug. In any case, it is absorbed intranasally with high bioavailability (approximately 30–60%). 

Smoked

Smoking the freebase or crack form of cocaine leads to a rapid onset of effects and an intense, short-lasting high. When smoked, the effects begin within seconds and last 5–15 minutes. Cocaine hydrochloride is not smoked because high temperatures make it burn, rather than vaporize. Due to its superior potency and bioavailability, the freebase form is considered the most addictive form of cocaine.

Intravenous

Intravenous administration leads to the quickest blood levels of the drug and the most intense effects. With this method, the user dissolves cocaine hydrochloride in water and injects it into the bloodstream. Injected cocaine produces effects within seconds that peak within three minutes. Intravenous administration of cocaine carries the most extreme psychological and physiological risk. 

Oral

The oral consumption of coca leaves produces a mild stimulant effect that has been used traditionally in South America to combat fatigue and altitude sickness. Users typically chew the coca leaves, similarly to chewing tobacco, with an alkaline substance like lime. The lack of a strongly alkaline substance renders cocaine inactive in the stomach. Traditionally, cocaine is also consumed orally via coca tea, after steeping the fresh or dried coca leaves in hot water. In either case, this delays the effects of orally administering cocaine because of the time it takes for the drug to reach the stomach or duodenum. Peak effects are usually felt an hour after ingestion and last for approximately two hours. Cocaine can also be consumed orally by dabbing cocaine powder onto the gums, though this is less common.

2. History

While the use of purified cocaine dates back relatively recently to the 19th century, the coca leaf has a long history of use as an ancient medicinal plant.

Indigenous Uses

Coca leaf chewing has been a cultural tradition for the indigenous peoples of the Andes for millennia. An analysis of 3,000-year-old mummified human remains in northern Chile found traces of cocaine in several of those tested. During the Incan empire, the coca leaf was seen as a divine plant and it was used widely for ritual, religious, social, and medicinal reasons. Medically, the coca leaf’s traditional uses included the treatment of stomach distress, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, ulcers, malaria, and asthma. Additionally, its stimulating effects helped combat altitude sickness and relieve fatigue, hunger, and thirst. 

Once the Spanish conquered the Inca in the 16th century, they initially attempted to eliminate the cultural practice of chewing coca leaves. After its eradication failed, the Spanish began to tax coca leaf and encouraged its traditional use by the native workers. Being a stamina booster and appetite suppressant, coca leaf chewing helped increase the workers’ productivity in the silver mines of the Andes. 

Today, coca leaf is still chewed or brewed in tea within various South American countries to combat altitude sickness and boost health, mood, and energy. 

Modern-Day Discovery

The coca leaf didn’t attract much interest in Europe and America until the mid-nineteenth century. The German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke first isolated the cocaine alkaloid in 1855, naming it “erythroxyline.” A few years later, a German PhD student named Albert Niemann developed an improved purification process for cocaine. In his research, he noted its bitter, numbing taste and named it cocaine, a name that comes from the coca plant and the alkaloid suffix -ine.

Soon, cocaine attracted entrepreneurial attention and was added to many tonics and beverages. A coca-infused wine called Vin Mariani was marketed in 1863 for health, vitality, and energy. This wine contained 6 mg of cocaine per ounce of wine and was endorsed by prime ministers, the Pope, and countless celebrities. The success of Vin Mariani inspired numerous competitors such as John S. Pemberton’s French Wine Cola. After the passage of alcohol prohibition legislation, this coca wine eventually became nonalcoholic Coca-Cola. Prior to 1916, cocaine could even be bought over the counter, and it was marketed for use as a tonic, toothache cure, and fatigue reliever.

Important Events, Findings, and Studies

In the 1880s, public awareness of cocaine’s therapeutic properties grew as the popular press enthusiastically praised its uses for a variety of conditions. In 1884, the Austrian ophthalmologist Karl Koller published a report on successfully using cocaine as a local anesthetic for ophthalmic procedures. The next year, after reading Koller’s report, the American surgeon William Halsted demonstrated the use of cocaine for nerve-block anesthesia. 

In an 1884 paper called Über Coca, Sigmund Freud extolled its use for opiate and alcohol dependence as well as numerous psychological conditions. Even the US Surgeon General recommended cocaine for depression, asserting that there was no such thing as cocaine addiction. 

Overuse and Criminal Use

Over the next decade, however, widespread publicity and use eventually led to reports of cocaine intoxication and addiction. This eventually led to sensationalized newspapers describing the dangers of cocaine use, and to growing backlash within the medical community. In the 1920s, cocaine use declined in parallel with federal regulations, and amphetamines became the more popular stimulant by the 1930s. 

It wasn’t until the 1970s that cocaine use and abuse returned with a vengeance after organized drug trafficking networks began smuggling cocaine into the United States from South America. The large influx of cocaine from South America fueled the 1980 “crack epidemic” that swept through major cities in the United States. By the mid-1980s, cocaine’s image in the media went from glamour drug for the rich and famous to America’s most dangerous and addictive illicit substance. 

In response to high rates of abuse and crime, the US government passed the federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. As part of the War on Drugs, this law punished the possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine in the same manner as 500 grams of powdered cocaine. In addition, it created a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for first-time possession of crack. Studies later demonstrated that the law disproportionately affected African Americans, leading to high youth incarceration rates. The Fair Sentencing Act, signed into law by Barack Obama in 2010, repealed portions of the earlier 1986 law. This act eliminated the mandatory 5-year sentence for crack possession and reduced the sentencing disparity between offenses for crack and powder cocaine from 100:1 to 18:1.

In the United States, cocaine is a schedule II substance under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. This means it has a high potential for abuse, but that a doctor can administer it for legitimate medical reasons. Its schedule II classification makes it illegal to sell without a DEA license, and illegal to buy or possess without a license or prescription. It is medically legal in liquid form for use in hospitals or medical centers for ear, nose, and throat surgeries. 

Around the world, cocaine is controlled in a similar manner as the States, with the exception of several countries in South America. In Peru, Argentina, and Bolivia, chewing coca leaves and drinking coca tea are cultural practices that are legal. Additionally, these countries allow the cultivation and sale of coca leaves. 

As for purified cocaine, it is legal in Colombia to possess one gram of cocaine for personal use, but sales are illegal. In Mexico, it’s legal to carry up to 1/2 gram of cocaine, but any more is illegal. In Peru, it is legal to possess up to two grams of cocaine or five grams of coca paste.

3. Pharmacology 

The main mechanism by which cocaine acts on the brain is through the inhibition of the reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Reuptake is the process through which neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft between neurons. Cocaine inhibits reuptake by blocking proteins known as transporters. This blocking leads to an accumulation of the neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft, resulting in the euphoric and stimulating cocaine high. 

The reinforcing effect of cocaine, which leads to compulsive self-administration of the drug in animal models, is mediated by dopamine transporter inhibition in the reward pathway. On the other hand, cocaine’s vasoconstrictive and cardiovascular effects are due to its ability to enhance norepinephrine signaling.

As a local anesthetic, cocaine blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in neuronal membranes. This blocks the initiation and conduction of nerve impulses, also known as action potentials. 

Toxicity

Toxicity is based on the levels of exposure or dose required for a substance to cause harm to a human or animal. The median lethal dose, or LD50, is a common measurement of toxicity, which measures the lethal dose for half of the tested organisms. 

The LD50 in rats given cocaine orally is approximately 17.5 mg/kg, which translates to an estimated minimal lethal dose of 1.2 g for a 70 kg human. Lethal dose can vary depending on numerous factors, including the presence of underlying health conditions, the level of tolerance, and the purity of the drug. Addicts have been known to tolerate up to 5 grams of cocaine per day, while some individuals have died from as little as 30 mg. 


A major factor determining the toxicity is the purity of the drug. A 1988 study examining the purity of street cocaine found an average purity of 40%, but today’s levels are presumably much lower. The majority of US cocaine is cut with an active adulterant known as levamisole, a deworming agent. This can cause severe immune disorders, skin conditions, and respiratory infections in some users. If the cutting agent in cocaine is an opioid like fentanyl, this significantly increases the chance of a fatal overdose.

Interactions

Cocaine and Other Substances

Combining cocaine with serotonergic psychedelics such as magic mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline can significantly increase the probability of negative psychological effects. These include anxiety, confusion, paranoia, and thought loops.

Avoid using other stimulants with cocaine. Common stimulants include Adderall and Dexedrine (or their generics), methylphenidate, Concerta (or its generic), anabolic steroids, and methamphetamine. Combining their use with cocaine can lead to dangerous cardiovascular effects, including irregular heart rhythm, hypertension, and an increased chance of heart attack.

Taking opioids with cocaine increases the toxicity of both, potentially resulting in an increased chance of seizures, respiratory distress, and death. 

While combining cocaine with alcohol is common, taking these two substances together can be dangerous. The combination results in the production of cocaethylene, an active metabolite that poses further toxicity to the heart, liver, and brain. In addition, cocaine allows for more alcohol consumption than usual, increasing the probability of dehydration, liver toxicity, and overdose.

For a more thorough list of interactions with other substances, consult this image by Tripsit.

Cocaine and Medications

Do not combine medications that increase serotonin levels, including many prescription antidepressants, with cocaine. This combination can increase the chance of serotonin syndrome, a potentially fatal condition characterized by agitation, confusion, delirium, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rate, and tremor. In addition, mixing cocaine with MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors) can result in severe health effects such as serotonin syndrome, hypertension, and psychosis.

Some medications can reduce the effects of cocaine, including lithium, risperidone, quetiapine, and carbamazepine. For this reason, these medications have been used in the treatment of cocaine dependence. 

Cocaine and Psychological Conditions

Cocaine can exacerbate mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can precipitate psychotic reactions in those predisposed to or with a family history of schizophrenia and psychosis.

Cocaine and Physical Conditions

Due to cocaine’s vasoconstrictive effects, it should not be used by those with preexisting heart conditions, high blood pressure, or a family history of heart ailments. Do not use cocaine if you have a history of liver/kidney disorders, stroke, and sleep disorders. Cocaine can also lower the seizure threshold, so do not use it if you have a history of seizures. 

Cocaine is a known teratogen, meaning it can cause defects in fetuses during prenatal development. Using cocaine during pregnancy can result in miscarriages, premature labor, and stillbirth.

Safety

Cocaine results in hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits and thousands of deaths each year. According to a 2011 report by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), over 505,000 emergency department visits were attributed to cocaine use that year. In 2016, there were 11,316 cocaine overdose deaths in the United States, though 40% of them also involved fentanyl.

The two most significant safety concerns when it comes to cocaine use are the development of addiction and the possibility of overdose. Due to cocaine’s effects on the reward pathway in the brain, it has a high potential for abuse and inclines users towards compulsive use. This can result in psychological dependence or addiction, which can create cravings and negative withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of the drug.  

Most cocaine overdoses occur in chronic, heavy users. Overdoses can lead to severe psychological symptoms such as agitation, delirium, hallucinations, psychosis, and frightening tactile hallucinations. Physiologically, overdoses can result in seizures, hyperthermia, abnormal heart rhythm, cardiomyopathy, heart attack, and cardiovascular collapse. The cardiovascular effects occur because cocaine blocks cardiac sodium channels. The possibility of overdose is elevated considerably when users dangerously combine cocaine with opioids.

4. Effects

Cocaine is known for its rapid onset and short duration of action. After the initial euphoric high, it produces a comedown or crash characterized by low mood, agitation, and anxiety.

How Long Do Cocaine’s Effects Last?

When cocaine is snorted, the effects come on within 5 minutes and last approximately one hour. However, when coca leaves are orally ingested, the stimulation is mild and the duration is slightly longer, up to 4 hours. When smoked or injected, the effects come on within seconds and last from 5–15 minutes.

OnsetDurationAfter effects
Insufflation (snorted)5 minutes1–2 hours1–2 hours
Oral5–15 minutes1–4 hours 1–2 hours
Smoked10–15 seconds5–15 minutes30–60 minutes
Intravenous10–15 seconds5–15 minutes30–60 minutes
Source: Erowid.org

Physiological 

Cocaine potently activates the “fight or flight” (or sympathetic) nervous system, which puts strain on the cardiovascular system. The effects on the body can range from mild to life-threatening, and can generally include:

  • Physical stimulation
  • Mouth and throat numbing
  • Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Overheating
  • Sweating
  • Pupil dilation
  • Shaking
  • Jaw clenching
  • Constricted blood vessels
  • Decreased seizure threshold
  • Appetite suppression
  • Insomnia

Psychological 

Depending on the dose and tolerance of the user, the psychological effects of cocaine use can include:

  • Euphoria
  • Mental stimulation
  • Increased alertness and energy
  • Reduced fatigue
  • Enhanced sociability
  • Ego inflation
  • Increased libido
  • Mania
  • Restlessness
  • Rapid changes in mood
  • Irritability
  • Agitation
  • Dizziness
  • Anxiety
  • Panic
  • Paranoia
  • Compulsive redosing

Common Side Effects

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the side effects of cocaine use can include:

  • Intense drug cravings
  • Loss of appetite
  • Disturbed sleep patterns
  • Constricted blood vessels
  • Tremors
  • Vertigo
  • Mood swings
  • Headaches
  • Paranoia
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Convulsions (high doses)

Adverse Effects

Regardless of the way it is consumed, cocaine can lead to a variety of adverse effects. These effects are likely if cocaine is used often and in high amounts. 

Adverse Physiological Effects

With excessive or extended use, cocaine can cause serious adverse physiological effects, including:

  • Hypertension
  • Hyperthermia
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Abnormal heart rhythm
  • Tremors
  • Convulsions
  • Itching
  • Insomnia
  • Weight loss
  • Malnourishment
  • Kidney damage

In addition, cocaine’s effects on the cardiovascular system can lead to coronary or cerebral artery vasoconstriction. In turn, this can increase the chance of heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. 

The adverse physiological effects also depend on how cocaine is used. Snorting cocaine can lead to damage to the sinuses, including loss of smell, persistent runny nose, nosebleeds, and destruction of the septum (the cartilage separating the nostrils). 

Smoking cocaine can lead to respiratory problems such as coughing up blood, chest pain, lung trauma, asthma, and shortness of breath. Injection of cocaine can lead to life-threatening infections, collapsed veins, track marks, abscesses, and contraction of blood-borne diseases like hepatitis and HIV.

Adverse Psychological Effects

Cocaine can lead to a wide array of adverse psychological effects, including:

  • Intense cravings
  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Depression
  • Paranoia
  • Agitation
  • Hostility
  • Irritability
  • Hallucinations
  • Delirium
  • Psychosis
  • Paranoid delusions 

Following the cocaine high, users frequently report an unpleasant comedown that can include depression, lethargy, and difficulty with muscle movement. The dysphoric comedown arises from the depletion of dopamine stores within the brain, which takes several days to recover. Over the long term, cocaine use can lead to disruptions in dopaminergic signaling and long-term damage to dopamine neurons. Eventually, this can make the reward pathway less sensitive to natural reinforcers.

All of these effects contribute to the development of tolerance, where users require more and more of the drug to achieve the same effects. Tolerance can lead to the desire to use extremely high doses of cocaine, which significantly increases the chance of serious health consequences and the possibility of full-blown addiction.

5. Uses

Recreationally

Cocaine has been a popular recreational drug since the early twentieth century due to its euphoric and stimulating effects. Its ability to produce strong feelings of euphoria, confidence, and sociability has made it a popular club drug in party environments. Its ability to boost alertness, productivity, and wakefulness have led to its use in workplace environments. 

Cocaine use occurs across all socioeconomic classes, races, ages, and professions. Owing to its high cost, powdered cocaine has been known colloquially as a “rich man’s drug.” The more inexpensive crack cocaine became prevalent in the 1980s, particularly in poorer inner-city markets because of its affordability, profitability, and near-immediate euphoric effects.

Medically 

Today, cocaine has a few legitimate medical uses due to its dual action as an anesthetic and vasoconstricting agent. While its use in ophthalmology has declined because of its corneal toxicity, it is still used for operations of the ear, nose, and throat. Specifically, ENT specialists use cocaine in nasal and lacrimal duct surgery to numb the area and reduce bleeding.

However, several local anesthetics such as benzocaine and lidocaine are used more frequently than cocaine because they exhibit fewer side effects. Within the past few years, the FDA has approved two cocaine hydrochloride nasal solutions (brand names Goprelto and Nombrino) for nasal surgeries in adults.

6. Cocaine Today

Cocaine remains a popular recreational drug today, with approximately 14–21 million people using it around the world each year. In this section, we will discuss trends in cocaine use within the United States, current clinical trials concerning cocaine, and end with international trends in cocaine production and consumption.

According to data from the United Nations, the United States is the top consumer of cocaine in the world, followed by England and Wales. The United States accounts for approximately 36% of the global consumption of cocaine, corresponding to a total market value of approximately 34 billion dollars. 


Cocaine prices in the United States have been relatively stable since declining significantly in the 1980s, when organized cocaine trafficking took to new heights. According to the 2020 National Drug Control Strategy report, the price per gram in 2018 averaged 156 dollars, while the bulk price per gram was 101 dollars.

According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), approximately 5.5 million people aged 12 and older used cocaine in the past year, while 757,000 people used crack. This corresponds to 2.0% of the population using cocaine, and 0.3% of the population using crack. Young, college-age adults between the ages of 18–25 have the highest rate of use among all age groups. Approximately 2 million (or 5.8% of) 18- to 25-year-olds used cocaine in the past year, and 87,000 (0.3%) used crack. 

According to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine), 17% of people who try cocaine become dependent on it. The rates of cocaine use disorder in the United States have stayed relatively stable since 2009. In 2018, an estimated 977,000 people aged 12 or older met the DSM IV criteria for cocaine use disorder, which works out to approximately 0.4% of the population. Nearly 77% of those people were 26 years of age or older.

Current Studies & Research

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital are currently recruiting participants for a phase I clinical study to test the safety and efficacy of an anti-cocaine vaccine. 

The vaccine, called dAd5GNE, has been designed to absorb cocaine in the bloodstream before it crosses the blood-brain barrier and exerts central nervous system effects. The vaccine is made of a cocaine analog called GNE that is bound to an adenovirus. The adenovirus is used to evoke an immune response to both the virus and the cocaine-like molecules attached to it. During the immune response, the body will produce anti-cocaine antibodies that will attack the cocaine molecules and blunt the effects of cocaine. The researchers previously demonstrated its effectiveness in animal studies, but the ongoing phase I trial will evaluate the effectiveness and safety in humans.

Around the World

According to the United Nations, 1,976 tons of cocaine were manufactured globally in 2017, a 25% increase from the previous year. To a large degree, this trend is due to significant increases in coca bush cultivation in Colombia. The country saw a 17% increase in the area under coca bush cultivation in 2017, which corresponded to a 31% rise in the amount of cocaine produced. 

Colombia is responsible for 70% of the worldwide cocaine production. The main consumer markets are located in North America, where 2.1% of the population uses cocaine, and western and central Europe, where 1.3% of the population uses cocaine. The majority of cocaine reaches Europe by sea, through ports in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and France. From these transit countries, cocaine is then shipped to other European countries by land. 

Oceanian countries like Australia and New Zealand also show high usage of cocaine, with a prevalence rate of roughly 2.2% of the population. Drug traffickers capitalize on the high price of cocaine in these countries, which ranged from $136,000–$226,000 per kilogram in 2017. Most of the cocaine travels by air to Australia and New Zealand from the United States and Chile.

7. FAQ

Does Cocaine Show Up in a Drug Test?

Yes. However, because cocaine metabolizes rapidly, standard drug tests detect its metabolites, namely benzoylecgonine. This metabolite can be detected in urine tests for 2 to 3 days, in the hair for 90 days, and in blood and saliva for up to 2 days.

Who Invented Cocaine?

The coca leaf, which coca comes from, has been used for millennia in South America. The cocaine alkaloid was first isolated by the German chemist Friedrich Gaedcke in 1855. 

Does Cocaine Go Bad?

If stored properly away from air, heat, light, and moisture, cocaine will last indefinitely. However, it’s possible some drop in potency will occur, especially when it has been adulterated with cutting agents. 

How to Store Cocaine?

Cocaine should be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. A few grains of rice or dry silica gel packets can be added to the container to help reduce moisture for long-term storage.

Are Cocaine and Coke the Same Thing?

Coke is the most common street name for cocaine, specifically the powdered hydrochloride salt form.

Can Dogs Smell Cocaine?

Yes, they can. “Sniffer dog” breeds (such as German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labrador retrievers) have an extraordinary sense of smell that is many orders of magnitude more sensitive than ours. Law enforcement trains these dogs to pinpoint a target odor (such as cocaine) in order to receive a reward.

What Does Cocaine Taste Like?

Similar to other alkaloids, cocaine is a bitter, metallic substance. In addition, it usually numbs the part of the mouth or nose that it touches.

Disclaimer: Cocaine is potentially categorized as an illegal drug. Reality Sandwich is not encouraging the use or growth of this drug where it is prohibited. However, we believe that providing information is imperative for the safety of those who choose to explore this substance.  This guide is intended to give educational content and should in no way be viewed as medical recommendations.

RS Contributing Author: Dylan Beard 

Dylan Beard is a freelance science writer and editor based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After finishing his physics degree and dabbling in neuroscience research at UC Santa Barbara in 2017, he returned to his first love: writing. As a long-term fan of the human brain, he loves exploring the latest research on psychedelics, nootropics, psychology, consciousness, meditation, and more. When not writing, you can probably find him on hiking trails around Oregon and Washington or listening to podcasts. Feel free to follow him on Insta @dylancb88.

Psychedelic Resources

A Foraging Trip: Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?
Eager to learn more about the origin of psilocybin species? Read this article to find out where magic mushrooms grow and more!

How to Make Shroom Tea: Best Recipe and Dosage
A step by step guide on how to brew shroom tea, and why entheogenic psilocybin tea is a preferred method for psychedelic connoisseurs.

R. Gordon Wasson: Author and Mushroom Expert
Learn about R. Gordon Wasson, the “legendary mushroom expert” and popular figure within the psychonaut community.

Shrooms vs Acid: Differences and Similarities Explained
Ever wondered what the differences are between shrooms vs acid, or if you can take both together? This guide explains what you need to know.

Quantum Mechanics, Reality, and Magic Mushrooms
Scientist and author Dr. Chris Becker takes an in-depth approach in understanding how we perceive reality through magic mushrooms and quantum mechanics.

Psilocybin Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Psilocybin has everything you want to know about this psychedelic fungi from its uses to its legal status.

The Psilocybin Experience: What’s the Deal With Magic Mushrooms?
From microdoses to macrodoses, the psilocybin experience has been sought after both medicinally and recreationally for millennia.

Psilocybin and Magic Mushroom Resources
Curious to learn more about psilocybin? This guide is a comprehensive psilocybin resource containing books, therapeutic studies, and more.

Paul Stamets Profile: Mushroom Guru, Filmmaker, Nutritionist, Scientist
Learn about Paul Stamets, read his thoughts on psilocybin mircodosing, the future of psilocybin, and his recent film “Fantastic Fungi”.

Microdosing Psilocybin & Common Dosage Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivably, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing psilocybin.

Psilocybin Nasal Spray: Relief for Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression
Microdosing nasal spray with psilocybin, is that possible?! Oregan a start-up Silo Wellness believes so and has created this new option for PTSD treatment.

Mazatec Mushroom Usage: Notes on Approach, Setting and Species for Curious Psilonauts
A look at traditional Mazatec psilocybin mushroom usage, and a comparison to the cliniical therapeutic approach, with an examination of the Mazatec setting and species used in veladas.

María Sabina: The Mazatec Magic Mushroom Woman
Magic mushrooms are incredibly popular today. How they became introduced to into American culture isn’t usually a topic discussed while tripping on psilocybin fungi. We all may have María Sabina to thank for exposing the Western world to the healing properties of the psilocybin mushroom.

Guide to Magic Mushroom Strains
Are there different types of psilocybin? Read our guide to learn about the different magic mushroom strains and their individual effects.

Kilindi Iyi: Mycologist, Traveler, Teacher
Learn about traveler and mycologist Kilindi Iyi known in the psychedelic community for his research and exploration of psilocybin.

How to Store Shrooms: Best Practices
How do you store shrooms for optimal shelf life? Learn how and why the proper storage method is so important.

Shroom Chocolate Recipes: How to Make Magic Mushroom Chocolates
This recipe provides step by step directions on how you can make mushroom chocolates with the necessary ingredients. Read to learn more!

Why Do People Use Psilocybin? New Johns Hopkins Study
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicines has just published a new study on psychoactive effects of psilocybin. Read here to learn more.

How-To Lemon Tek: Ultimate Guide and Recipe
This master guide will teach you how to lemon tek, preventing the onset of negative effects after consuming psilocybin. Read to learn more!

How to Intensify a Mushroom Trip
Learn about techniques like Lemon tekking, or discover the right time to consume cannabis if you are looking to intensify a mushroom trip.

How to Grow Magic Mushrooms: Step-by-Step
This step-by-step guide will show you how to grow magic mushrooms at home. Read this guide before trying it on your own.

How to Dry Magic Mushrooms: Best Practices
Read to learn more about specifics for the best practices on how to dry magic mushrooms after harvesting season.

How to Buy Psilocybin Spores
Interested in psilocybin mushrooms? We’ll walk you through all you need to know to obtain mushroom spores. Nosh on this delish How To guide.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

Having Sex on Shrooms: Good or Bad Idea?
Is having sex on shrooms a good idea or an accident waiting to happen? Find out in our guide to sex on magic mushrooms.

Gold Cap Shrooms Guide: Spores, Effects, Identification
Read this guide to learn more about the different characteristics of gold cap mushrooms, and how they differ from other psilocybin species.

Guide to Cooking with Magic Mushrooms
From cookies to smoothies and sandwiches, we cover various methods of cooking with magic mushrooms for the ultimate snack.

2020 Election: The Decriminalize Psilocybin Movement
Are you curious if mushrooms will follow in marijuana’s footsteps? Read to learn about how the U.S. is moving to decriminalize psilocybin.

Oregon’s Initiative to Legalize Mushrooms | Initiative Petition 34
Oregon continues to push ahead with their initiative to legalize Psilocybin in 2020. The measure received its official title and now needs signatures.

Canada Approves Psilocybin Treatment for Terminally-Ill Cancer Patients
Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hajdu approved the use of psilocybin to help ease anxiety and depression of four terminal cancer patients.

Mapping the DMT Experience
With only firsthand experiences to share, how can we fully map the DMT experience? Let’s explore what we know about this powerful psychedelic.

Guide to Machine Elves and Other DMT Entities
This guide discusses machine elves, clockwork elves, and other common DMT entities that people experience during a DMT trip.

Is the DMT Experience a Hallucination? 
What if the DMT realm was the real world, and our everyday lives were merely a game we had chosen to play?

How to Store DMT
Not sure how to store DMT? Read this piece to learn the best practices and elements of advice to keep your stuff fresh.

What Does 5-MeO-DMT Show Us About Consciousness?
How does our brain differentiate between what’s real and what’s not? Read to learn what can 5-MeO-DMT show us about consciousness.

How to Smoke DMT: Processes Explained
There are many ways to smoke DMT and we’ve outlined some of the best processes to consider before embarking on your journey.

How to Ground After DMT
Knowing what to expect from a DMT comedown can help you integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible from your journey.

How To Get DMT
What kind of plants contain DMT? Are there other ways to access this psychedelic? Read on to learn more about how to get DMT.

How DMT is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make DMT? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how DMT is made.

Having Sex on DMT: What You Need to Know
Have you ever wondered about sex on DMT? Learn how the God Molecule can influence your intimate experiences.

Does the Human Brain Make DMT? 
With scientific evidence showing us DMT in the brain, what can we conclude it is there for? Read on to learn more.

How to Use DMT Vape Pens
Read to learn all about DMT vape pens including: what to know when vaping, what to expect when purchasing a DMT cartridge, and vaping safely.

DMT Resources
This article is a comprehensive DMT resource providing extensive information from studies, books, documentaries, and more. Check it out!

Differentiating DMT and Near-Death Experiences
Some say there are similarities between a DMT trip and death. Read our guide on differentiating DMT and near-death experiences to find out.

DMT Research from 1956 to the Edge of Time
From a representative sample of a suitably psychedelic crowd, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who couldn’t tell you all about Albert Hofmann’s enchanted bicycle ride after swallowing what turned out to be a massive dose of LSD. Far fewer, however, could tell you much about the world’s first DMT trip.

The Ultimate Guide to DMT Pricing
Check out our ultimate guide on DMT pricing to learn what to expect when purchasing DMT for your first time.

DMT Milking | Reality Sandwich
Indigenous cultures have used 5-MeO-DMT for centuries. With the surge in demand for psychedelic toad milk, is DMT Milking harming the frogs?

Why Does DMT Pervade Nature?
With the presence of DMT in nature everywhere – including human brains – why does it continue to baffle science?

DMT Substance Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to DMT has everything you want to know about this powerful psychedelic referred to as “the spirit molecule”.

DMT for Depression: Paving the Way for New Medicine
We’ve been waiting for an effective depression treatment. Studies show DMT for depression works even for treatment resistant patients.

Beating Addiction with DMT
Psychedelics have been studied for their help overcoming addiction. Read how DMT is helping addicts beat their substance abuse issues.

DMT Extraction: Behind the Scientific Process
Take a look at DMT extraction and the scientific process involved. Learn all you need to know including procedures and safety.

Microdosing DMT & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing DMT.

DMT Art: A Look Behind Visionary Creations
An entire genre of artwork is inspired by psychedelic trips with DMT. Read to learn about the entities and visions behind DMT art.

Changa vs. DMT: What You Need to Know
While similar (changa contains DMT), each drug has its own unique effect and feeling. Let’s compare and contrast changa vs DMT.

5-MeO-DMT Guide: Effects, Benefits, Safety, and Legality
5-Meo-DMT comes from the Sonora Desert toad. Here is everything you want to know about 5-Meo-DMT and how it compares to 4-AcO-DMT.

4-AcO-DMT Guide: Benefits, Effects, Safety, and Legality
This guide tells you everything about 4 AcO DMT & 5 MeO DMT, that belong to the tryptamine class, and are similar but slightly different to DMT.

How Much Does LSD Cost? When shopping around for that magical psychedelic substance, there can be many uncertainties when new to buying LSD. You may be wondering how much does LSD cost? In this article, we will discuss what to expect when purchasing LSD on the black market, what forms LSD is sold in, and the standard breakdown of buying LSD in quantity.   Navy Use of LSD on the Dark Web The dark web is increasingly popular for purchasing illegal substances. The US Navy has now noticed this trend with their staff. Read to learn more.   Having Sex on LSD: What You Need to Know Can you have sex on LSD? Read our guide to learn everything about sex on acid, from lowered inhibitions to LSD users quotes on sex while tripping.   A Drug That Switches off an LSD Trip A pharmaceutical company is developing an “off-switch” drug for an LSD trip, in the case that a bad trip can happen. Some would say there is no such thing.   Queen of Hearts: An Interview with Liz Elliot on Tim Leary and LSD The history of psychedelia, particularly the British experience, has been almost totally written by men. Of the women involved, especially those who were in the thick of it, little has been written either by or about them. A notable exception is Liz Elliot.   LSD Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety LSD, Lysergic acid diethylamide, or just acid is one of the most important psychedelics ever discovered. What did history teach us?   Microdosing LSD & Common Dosage Explained Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing LSD.   LSD Resources Curious to learn more about LSD? This guide includes comprehensive LSD resources containing books, studies and more.   LSD as a Spiritual Aid There is common consent that the evolution of mankind is paralleled by the increase and expansion of consciousness. From the described process of how consciousness originates and develops, it becomes evident that its growth depends on its faculty of perception. Therefore every means of improving this faculty should be used.   Legendary LSD Blotter Art: A Hidden Craftsmanship Have you ever heard of LSD blotter art? Explore the trippy world of LSD art and some of the top artists of LSD blotter art.   LSD and Exercise: Does it Work? LSD and exercise? Learn why high-performing athletes are taking hits of LSD to improve their overall potential.   Jan Bastiaans Treated Holocaust Survivors with LSD Dutch psychiatrist, Jan Bastiaans administered LSD-assisted therapy to survivors of the Holocaust. A true war hero and pioneer of psychedelic-therapy.   LSD and Spiritual Awakening I give thanks for LSD, which provided the opening that led me to India in 1971 and brought me to Neem Karoli Baba, known as Maharajji. Maharajji is described by the Indians as a “knower of hearts.”   How LSD is Made: Everything You Need to Know Ever wonder how to make LSD? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how LSD is made.   How to Store LSD: Best Practices Learn the best way to store LSD, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long LSD lasts when stored.   Bicycle Day: The Discovery of LSD Every year on April 19th, psychonauts join forces to celebrate Bicycle Day. Learn about the famous day when Albert Hoffman first discovered the effects of LSD.   Cary Grant: A Hollywood Legend On LSD Cary Grant was a famous actor during the 1930’s-60’s But did you know Grant experimented with LSD? Read our guide to learn more.   Albert Hofmann: LSD — My Problem Child Learn about Albert Hofmann and his discovery of LSD, along with the story of Bicycle Day and why it marks a historic milestone.   Babies are High: What Does LSD Do To Your Brain What do LSD and babies have in common? Researchers at the Imperial College in London discover that an adult’s brain on LSD looks like a baby’s brain.   1P LSD: Effects, Benefits, Safety Explained 1P LSD is an analogue of LSD and homologue of ALD-25. Here is everything you want to know about 1P LSD and how it compares to LSD.   Francis Crick, DNA & LSD Type ‘Francis Crick LSD’ into Google, and the result will be 30,000 links. Many sites claim that Crick (one of the two men responsible for discovering the structure of DNA), was either under the influence of LSD at the time of his revelation or used the drug to help with his thought processes during his research. Is this true?   What Happens If You Overdose on LSD? A recent article presented three individuals who overdosed on LSD. Though the experience was unpleasant, the outcomes were remarkably positive.

The Ayahuasca Experience
Ayahuasca is both a medicine and a visionary aid. You can employ ayahuasca for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual repair, and you can engage with the power of ayahuasca for deeper insight and realization. If you consider attainment of knowledge in the broadest perspective, you can say that at all times, ayahuasca heals.

 

Trippy Talk: Meet Ayahuasca with Sitaramaya Sita and PlantTeachers
Sitaramaya Sita is a spiritual herbalist, pusangera, and plant wisdom practitioner formally trained in the Shipibo ayahuasca tradition.

 

The Therapeutic Value of Ayahuasca
My best description of the impact of ayahuasca is that it’s a rocket boost to psychospiritual growth and unfolding, my professional specialty during my thirty-five years of private practice.

 

Microdosing Ayahuasca: Common Dosage Explained
What is ayahuasca made of and what is considered a microdose? Explore insights with an experienced Peruvian brewmaster and learn more about this practice.

 

Ayahuasca Makes Neuron Babies in Your Brain
Researchers from Beckley/Sant Pau Research Program have shared the latest findings in their study on the effects of ayahuasca on neurogenesis.

 

The Fatimiya Sufi Order and Ayahuasca
In this interview, the founder of the Fatimiya Sufi Order,  N. Wahid Azal, discusses the history and uses of plant medicines in Islamic and pre-Islamic mystery schools.

 

Consideration Ayahuasca for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Research indicates that ayahuasca mimics mechanisms of currently accepted treatments for PTSD. In order to understand the implications of ayahuasca treatment, we need to understand how PTSD develops.

 

Brainwaves on Ayahuasca: A Waking Dream State
In a study researchers shared discoveries showing ingredients found in Ayahuasca impact the brainwaves causing a “waking dream” state.

 

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a pro cannabis Peruvian Shaman.

 

Ayahuasca Retreat 101: Everything You Need to Know to Brave the Brew
Ayahuasca has been known to be a powerful medicinal substance for millennia. However, until recently, it was only found in the jungle. Word of its deeply healing and cleansing properties has begun to spread across the world as many modern, Western individuals are seeking spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. More ayahuasca retreat centers are emerging in the Amazon and worldwide to meet the demand.

 

Ayahuasca Helps with Grief
A new study published in psychopharmacology found that ayahuasca helped those suffering from the loss of a loved one up to a year after treatment.

 

Ayahuasca Benefits: Clinical Improvements for Six Months
Ayahuasca benefits can last six months according to studies. Read here to learn about the clinical improvements from drinking the brew.

 

Ayahuasca Culture: Indigenous, Western, And The Future
Ayahuasca has been use for generations in the Amazon. With the rise of retreats and the brew leaving the rainforest how is ayahuasca culture changing?

 

Ayahuasca Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
The Amazonian brew, Ayahuasca has a long history and wide use. Read our guide to learn all about the tea from its beginnings up to modern-day interest.

 

Ayahuasca and the Godhead: An Interview with Wahid Azal of the Fatimiya Sufi Order
Wahid Azal, a Sufi mystic of The Fatimiya Sufi Order and an Islamic scholar, talks about entheogens, Sufism, mythology, and metaphysics.

 

Ayahuasca and the Feminine: Women’s Roles, Healing, Retreats, and More
Ayahuasca is lovingly called “grandmother” or “mother” by many. Just how feminine is the brew? Read to learn all about women and ayahuasca.

What Is the Standard of Care for Ketamine Treatments?
Ketamine therapy is on the rise in light of its powerful results for treatment-resistant depression. But, what is the current standard of care for ketamine? Read to find out.

What Is Dissociation and How Does Ketamine Create It?
Dissociation can take on multiple forms. So, what is dissociation like and how does ketamine create it? Read to find out.

Having Sex on Ketamine: Getting Physical on a Dissociative
Curious about what it could feel like to have sex on a dissociate? Find out all the answers in our guide to sex on ketamine.

Special K: The Party Drug
Special K refers to Ketamine when used recreationally. Learn the trends as well as safety information around this substance.

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

Ketamine vs. Esketamine: 3 Important Differences Explained
Ketamine and esketamine are used to treat depression. But what’s the difference between them? Read to learn which one is right for you: ketamine vs. esketamine.

Guide to Ketamine Treatments: Understanding the New Approach
Ketamine is becoming more popular as more people are seeing its benefits. Is ketamine a fit? Read our guide for all you need to know about ketamine treatments.

Ketamine Treatment for Eating Disorders
Ketamine is becoming a promising treatment for various mental health conditions. Read to learn how individuals can use ketamine treatment for eating disorders.

Ketamine Resources, Studies, and Trusted Information
Curious to learn more about ketamine? This guide includes comprehensive ketamine resources containing books, studies and more.

Ketamine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to ketamine has everything you need to know about this “dissociative anesthetic” and how it is being studied for depression treatment.

Ketamine for Depression: A Mental Health Breakthrough
While antidepressants work for some, many others find no relief. Read to learn about the therapeutic uses of ketamine for depression.

Ketamine for Addiction: Treatments Offering Hope
New treatments are offering hope to individuals suffering from addiction diseases. Read to learn how ketamine for addiction is providing breakthrough results.

Microdosing Ketamine & Common Dosages Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing ketamine.

How to Ease a Ketamine Comedown
Knowing what to expect when you come down from ketamine can help integrate the experience to gain as much value as possible.

How to Store Ketamine: Best Practices
Learn the best ways how to store ketamine, including the proper temperature and conditions to maximize how long ketamine lasts when stored.

How To Buy Ketamine: Is There Legal Ketamine Online?
Learn exactly where it’s legal to buy ketamine, and if it’s possible to purchase legal ketamine on the internet.

How Long Does Ketamine Stay in Your System?
How long does ketamine stay in your system? Are there lasting effects on your body? Read to discover the answers!

How Ketamine is Made: Everything You Need to Know
Ever wonder how to make Ketamine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how Ketamine is made.

Colorado on Ketamine: First Responders Waiver Programs
Fallout continues after Elijah McClain. Despite opposing recommendations from some city council, Colorado State Health panel recommends the continued use of ketamine by medics for those demonstrating “excited delirium” or “extreme agitation”.

Types of Ketamine: Learn the Differences & Uses for Each
Learn about the different types of ketamine and what they are used for—and what type might be right for you. Read now to find out!

Kitty Flipping: When Ketamine and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Read to explore the mechanics of kitty flipping.

MDMA & Ecstasy Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to MDMA has everything you want to know about Ecstasy from how it was developed in 1912 to why it’s being studied today.

How To Get the Most out of Taking MDMA as a Couple
Taking MDMA as a couple can lead to exciting experiences. Read here to learn how to get the most of of this love drug in your relationship.

Common MDMA Dosage & Microdosing Explained
Microdosing, though imperceivable, is showing to have many health benefits–here is everything you want to know about microdosing MDMA.

Having Sex on MDMA: What You Need to Know
MDMA is known as the love drug… Read our guide to learn all about sex on MDMA and why it is beginning to makes its way into couple’s therapy.

How MDMA is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make MDMA? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how MDMA is made.

Hippie Flipping: When Shrooms and Molly Meet
What is it, what does it feel like, and how long does it last? Explore the mechanics of hippie flipping and how to safely experiment.

How Cocaine is Made: Common Procedures Explained
Ever wonder how to make cocaine? Read our guide to learn everything you need to know about the procedures of how cocaine is made.

A Christmas Sweater with Santa and Cocaine
This week, Walmart came under fire for a “Let it Snow” Christmas sweater depicting Santa with lines of cocaine. Columbia is not merry about it.

Ultimate Cocaine Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
This guide covers what you need to know about Cocaine, including common effects and uses, legality, safety precautions and top trends today.

NEWS: An FDA-Approved Cocaine Nasal Spray
The FDA approved a cocaine nasal spray called Numbrino, which has raised suspicions that the pharmaceutical company, Lannett Company Inc., paid off the FDA..

The Ultimate Guide to Cannabis Bioavailability
What is bioavailability and how can it affect the overall efficacy of a psychedelic substance? Read to learn more.

Cannabis Research Explains Sociability Behaviors
New research by Dr. Giovanni Marsicano shows social behavioral changes occur as a result of less energy available to the neurons. Read here to learn more.

The Cannabis Shaman
If recreational and medical use of marijuana is becoming accepted, can the spiritual use as well? Experiential journalist Rak Razam interviews Hamilton Souther, founder of the 420 Cannabis Shamanism movement…

Cannabis Guide: Effects, Common Uses, Safety
Our ultimate guide to Cannabis has everything you want to know about this popular substances that has psychedelic properties.

Cannabis and Ayahuasca: Mixing Entheogenic Plants
Cannabis and Ayahuasca: most people believe they shouldn’t be mixed. Read this personal experience peppered with thoughts from a procannabis Peruvian Shaman.

CBD-Rich Cannabis Versus Single-Molecule CBD
A ground-breaking study has documented the superior therapeutic properties of whole plant Cannabis extract as compared to synthetic cannabidiol (CBD), challenging the medical-industrial complex’s notion that “crude” botanical preparations are less effective than single-molecule compounds.

Cannabis Has Always Been a Medicine
Modern science has already confirmed the efficacy of cannabis for most uses described in the ancient medical texts, but prohibitionists still claim that medical cannabis is “just a ruse.”

Related Posts

Ready to explore the frontiers of consciousness?

Sign up for the Reality Bites newsletter and embark on a journey into the world of psychedelics, mindfulness, and transformation. It’s where the curious minds gather.

Become a conscious agent with us.

Featured Partner

Cosmic Melts

Cosmic Melts are the latest mushroom gummies we’ve been munching on. Choose from five fruity flavors, each gummy containing 350mg of Amanita muscaria.
 
Amanita muscaria offers a unique (and totally legal!) mushroom experience, and Cosmic Melts is an ideal entry point for the curious consumer.
Featured Partner

Lab Link Supply

Our go-to source for spores so you can grow your own shrooms right at home. Carrying several of our favorite species including B+, Golden Teacher, Jedi Mind F*ck, Blue Meanie and more. Browse their selection of spores and get started with your home grow.

Our Partners

Welcome to Reality Sandwich. Please verify that you are over 18 years of age below.

Reality Sandwich uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By entering Reality Sandwich, you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.