Which of the following countries are the origin of the plant from whose leaves cocaine is extracted?

• A. Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras
• B. Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia
• C. Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam
• D. Turkey, Iran, and Iraq

Answer: (B)

The plant used to produce cocaine is native to the Andean highlands of western South America. Indigenous peoples in this region have long used coca leaves for a variety of purposes, including ceremonial uses and altitude adjustment, which reflects the plant’s historical origins there. Peru and Bolivia are especially central to that origin, with Colombia also historically part of the homeland where coca has been cultivated for centuries. The other regions listed do not share this native origin, as coca is not native to Central America, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East. So, the countries that best represent the plant’s origin are those in the Andean region: Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia.