Was Cocaine Ever an Ingredient in Coca-Cola?

When Coca-Cola was first invented in 1886, it was advertised to be "a valuable brain tonic and a cure for all nervous afflictions." To say that the cola was "invigorating" would be an understatement. Until 1903, Coca-Cola is rumored to have contained about 9 mg. of cocaine per glass. Coca-Cola also contained caffeine, which increased the effects of the cocaine, and most customers did not just settle for one glass.

Coca-Cola was born out of the ambitions of Druggist John Pemberton. His obsession was to create the perfect medicine and drink, in one formulation. At age 50, he desired to make scientific history, and to earn a fortune. Research into the coca plant indicated that it was an aid to digestion, a stimulant, an aphrodisiac, and that it prolonged life. Who could ask for more? As Pemberton worked on his creation, he would often skip meals, and continue working long into the night. Since the formulation's primary ingredients were the coca leaf, and the kola nut, one of Pemberton's partners in his chemical company, Frank Robinson, coined the catchy name "Coca-Cola." Robinson encouraged Pemberton to market the cola drink through the use of coupons, banners, and signs on streetcars. As a result, Coca-Cola became quite popular.

As time went on, Pemberton developed cancer, and was also dealing with a morphine addiction, so he decided to sell 2/3 of his rights to Coca-Cola. He wanted to keep some interest in the cola product, so that his son would be able to make a living. (However, in 6 years, his son would be dead from his own morphine overdose.)

John Pemberton continued to experiment with the formulation of Coca-Cola, until he died in 1888. His obituary described him as "the oldest druggist of Atlanta...an especially popular gentleman." (No doubt!) Little did he and his wife (who died a pauper, due to his bad business decisions) know, that eventually, his patent medicine and beverage, Coca-Cola, would become a huge multi-million dollar business venture.

Ownership of the Coke company ended up with Asa Griggs Candler, manufacturer of patent medicines, and a later mayor of Atlanta, who is considered the founder of the Coca-Cola Company.

In the early days, Southerners referred to the cola as "dope" and "a shot in the arm." Soda fountains in drug stores were referred to as "hop joints", and the Coca-Cola delivery trucks were known as "dope wagons." In 1903, an article in the New York Tribune linked black crime and racial violence with cocaine, and asked for legal proceedings against Coca-Cola. As the public began to turn against cocaine, because its adverse effects and addictive properties were discovered, Coca-Cola apparently switched its formula from fresh coca leaves, to the spent ones (those left after the cocaine has been removed.) Advertising no longer touted Coca-Cola's amazing energy lift, but rather focused on the fact that Coke was a refreshing drink. By 1929, Coca-Cola was completely cocaine-free, though only a trivial amount had been present, since 1903.

Sources: http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp
http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/coca-cola.html
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/658016
http://www.purpleslinky.com/Trivia/History/When-and-Why-Was-Cocaine-Removed-From-Coca-Cola.206223
http://www.lewrockwell.com/jarvis/jarvis17.html
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/384/is-it-true-coca-cola-once-contained-cocaine
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/36814