Evo-lution

Not too surprisingly (given his background as a cocalero leader), the new Bolivian president Evo Morales has named a coca grower as the government’s top anti-drug official. I don’t know how this will play out, but the dynamics are very interesting. Morales has said many times that he is opposed to cocaine production, so there will be tension when he tries to define and then crack down on coca cultivation intended for cocaine. On the other hand, his anti-cocaine stance seems to have stymied the Bush administration, which has shown uncharacteristic restraint by not criticizing him. It’s hard to imagine that honeymoon lasting too long, however.

Meanwhile, Morales also says he wants to expand the production of legal goods made with coca. Coca toothpaste, anyone? Brushing with that would get your morning off to an energetic start.