Most people are unaware that Coca-Cola initially contained cocaine in its composition. Coca-Cola was created as a medicinal beverage in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton (1831-1888) and initially contained extracts from coca leaves and kola nuts, which is reflected in its name.
Pemberton, himself addicted to morphine due to a Civil War injury sustained while fighting for the Confederates, began experimenting with non-opiate formulations after the war, attempting to combat his addiction. At the suggestion of another physician, he created his own recipe using coca leaves, kola nuts (which contain caffeine), and wine, known as French Wine Coca. Later, due to alcohol prohibition, the wine was replaced with sugar, giving rise to Coca-Cola.
Pemberton began selling his "therapeutic" syrup, marketed as a cure for almost every disease, in pharmacies, but with little success - in the first year, sales were disappointing, only nine drinks per day.
The small amount of cocaine provided a mild stimulation and was considered safe and non-addictive - although according to reports, when customers asked for it, they would say "give me some of that stuff". However, when Coca-Cola was first bottled in 1894, it contained 3.5 grams of cocaine.
Unfortunately, Pemberton would not live to see his creation soar to success. His addiction to morphine and poor health forced him to "disengage" and sell his creation to a visionary entrepreneur, Asa Candler. He died poor in 1888 from stomach cancer - his wife lived the rest of her life in poverty, while his only son died in 1894 from narcotics.
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In 1904, Coca-Cola restricted the use of coca (completely eliminating it by 1929) and replaced it with caffeine to comply with the legislation of the time, which prohibited the use of cocaine in medicinal products. It is also said that the restriction was due to a rumor circulating in the South that black men were using it before raping white women...