Iran

[Phil]

Originally Posted by Urbane Guerrilla

A nice thought -- but the difference between the money Yusuf Afghani can make from a field of wheat and a field of opium poppies is nothing short of astromomical, whether legal or no. Nobody has been able to wipe out this dollar difference nor even to close the gap.

the problem is that it has never been properly addressed. for example, coca could be used in a lift-me-up-tea, or in conference mints for the boring post-lunch sessions, or coca cake for hikers and walkers. of course, the strength and purity would have to be lessened so that it doesnt become addictve, like coffee, but the answers are there.
regards the opium plant, until you get to the top of the hierarchy, the cost of heroin in Afghanistan is miniscule compared to the cost when it gets to the UK. Afghanis are not getting rich from this: they are existing hand to mouth stylee.
off topic again, but needed to be brought up, i think.

for more on Coca, there is an excellent book available called THE BIG DEAL by Anthony Henman.