Why is khat legal

Khat or qat is a drug found in the leaves of a wild, East African shrub called Catha edulis. The plant contains a central nervous system stimulant called cathinone. Khat chewing is tied to social and cultural traditions dating back thousands of years, mostly in North-Eastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where the plant is widely cultivated.

Twenty million people worldwide use khat. While it has traditionally been a custom associated with older Muslim men, khat's use has expanded to include women and younger people. Cathinone is a Schedule I Controlled Substance. Khat is illegal in the United States and Canada, but is legal in many other parts of the world, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, and Kenya, where is it commonly seen as a food rather than a drug much the way that coffee is viewed in the United States.

Drug Class: Stimulant khat has a stimulant effect when chewed that is similar to the leaves of the coca plant, which is used for making cocaine. Common Side Effects: Increased respiration, elevated blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, and dilated pupils; regular use can cause tooth decay, gum disease, ulcers, and constipation.

Khat leaves are usually green or green-brown. When fresh, the leaves have a glossy appearance. As they dry, they turn leathery yellow-brown. Given its appearance, khat is sometimes mistaken for marijuana. The leaves of the khat plant are often packed together in a bundle and wrapped in banana leaves.

People who use khat typically chew fresh leaves, because the active components of the plant break down quickly as they dry out. Dried leaves are sometimes used as a tea, although the effects are less potent. Khat's effects are similar to those of other stimulants, such as caffeine.

People who use khat may become talkative, alert, elated, and experience euphoria. Some people report feeling increased self-esteem. Others describe increased imagination and ideas. Khat is usually chewed, with people typically holding the chewed leaves in their cheek for several hours, chewing periodically. Chewing sessions typically last 3 to 4 hours. When people from these countries migrate to other parts of the world, they often use the social act of chewing khat to maintain a sense of connection to their community.

The practice has lead to the development of an international drug trade for khat. According to the World Health Organization WHO , the effects of khat consumption are similar to those of strong coffee. Research published in suggested the effects of khat are seen in the central nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems.

Khat has no approved or evidence-based medical uses in the United States. In countries where its sale and use are legal, khat is sometimes used to treat fatigue, headaches, colds, and depression.

Since it is only a mild stimulant, people sometimes mistakenly believe that khat does not have any serious side effects. But though khat is a relatively low-risk drug, it's associated with an increased risk for a variety of medical complications, including:. It's unclear whether the health risks associated with khat use are directly related to the drug cathinone, the consumption of caffeinated drinks that intensify the high, or if they're partially related to inhalation of second-hand smoke in poorly ventilated chewing houses.

Additionally, many people who use khat do not wash the leaves before chewing they believe washing the leaves will reduce the drug's potency , so some of these health problems may also be the result of toxic pesticides.

Mental health conditions associated with khat use, including psychosis , have been documented but are not well understood. Khat use is also associated with symptoms of depression, mood swings, and violent behavior. Users simply chew the green khat leaves, keeping a ball of partially chewed leaves against the inside of their cheek not unlike chewing tobacco. The dried leaves can also be used in this way, though they have less potency.

Some khat users also smoke the drug, make it into tea or sprinkle it on food. Use of khat has been a tradition for centuries throughout Somalia, Yemen and Ethiopia, where khat cafes "mafrishes" are often found. Khat leaves are chewed by students before exams, in the morning before work or at social gatherings, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The effects of khat also known as qat, qaad, Arabian tea, kat and chat are similar to those of other amphetamines, according to authorities like the Drug Enforcement Administration. Khat users report feelings of well-being, mental alertness, excitement and euphoria.

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Opinion is divided on whether banning khat in the UK is the right thing. Cafe owners from around the UK come to the west London depot to collect boxes of khat to distribute. Khat - its effects and risks. Image source, Getty Images. Khat farmer FG Machuma says chewing the leaves is no worse than drinking alcohol or smoking.

Karen Bradley: "This affects a very small community". Khat is mainly grown in Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen. Al-Shabab warning. Vice's Alex Miller: "It's a good vibe, right? We're having a nice time". Published 29 November Published 14 May