Who Took the Cocaine Out of Coca-Cola?

Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine, a decision influenced by the medical community's perception of the drug as safe for white, middle-class consumers. Dr. John Stith Pemberton, who created Coca-Cola after becoming addicted to morphine, initially marketed it as a remedy for various ailments, including nervousness and sexual dysfunction. The drink gained popularity in the 1880s, particularly among white customers at soda fountains. However, attitudes towards cocaine shifted dramatically when its use spread among Black laborers in the South, who began using it to cope with demanding work conditions. This change in perception led to fears about the drug's association with crime and moral decay, particularly in relation to Black men.

As Coca-Cola expanded its market in the late 1890s, concerns about the drug's reputation intensified. In 1901, the Atlanta Constitution linked Coca-Cola to the dangers of cocaine use among Black individuals, prompting Asa Grigs Candler, Pemberton's business partner, to reformulate the drink. He replaced cocaine with higher amounts of sugar and caffeine and began denying that the original formula ever contained cocaine. This shift reflected broader societal anxieties about race and drug use, illustrating how racial dynamics influenced public health perceptions and corporate decisions in the early 20th century.