In the 16th century, jurists, theologists, economists and governors took sides in heated debates over Coca.

The widespread use of Coca in ceremonies amongst the Andean peoples conflicted with a promising economic perspective for the Spanish in the region. Thus groups of ecclesiastical hierarchies clashed with socio-economic groups. The former wanted to eliminate the use of Coca whilst the latter wanted to continue its use to promote production, commerce and even commercialization of the leaf itself.