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Khat
Catha edulis
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Celastrales Family: Celastraceae Genus: Catha Species: C. edulis
Binomial name
Catha edulis (Vahl) Forssk. ex Endl.

Khat (Catha edulis, family Celastraceae, Ge'ez ጫት č̣āt; Arabic: قات; Somali: Jaad; IPA: [kat]), and also known as qat, gat, chat, and miraa), is a flowering plant native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Believed to have originated in Ethiopia, it is a shrub or small tree that grows to between 1.5 metres and 20 metres tall, depending on region and rainfall, with evergreen leaves 5–10 cm long and 1–4 cm broad. The flowers are produced on short axillary cymes 4–8 cm long, each flower small, with five white petals. The fruit is an oblong three-valved capsule containing 1–3 seeds.
Image File history File links Merge-arrows. ... Qat is a large, slow growing, evergreen shrub, reaching a height of between 1 and 5 metres, in equatorial regions it may reach a height of 10 meters. ... Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Catha_edulis. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn2. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Orders See text. ... Families Celastraceae(staff vinefamily) Parnassiaceae Lepidobotryaceae The Celastrales are an order of flowering plants, included within the rosid subgroup of dicotyledons. ... Genera About 90-100 genera, including: Cassine– Catha– Khat Celastrus– Staff vineor Staff tree Euonymus– Spindle Maytenus– Maiten Mortonia– Mortonia Paxistima Putterlickia Tripterygium The Celastraceae, or staff vine family, is a family of about 90-100 genera and 1,300 species of vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Genera About 90-100 genera, including: Cassine– Catha– Khat Celastrus– Staff vineor Staff tree Euonymus– Spindle Maytenus– Maiten Mortonia– Mortonia Paxistima Putterlickia Tripterygium The Celastraceae, or staff vine family, is a family of about 90-100 genera and 1,300 species of vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the... Note: This article contains special characters. ... The Arabic alphabet is the script used for writing languages such as Arabic, Persian, Urdu, and others. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ...  Eastern Africa (UN subregion)  East African Community  Central African Federation (defunct)  geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... Arabia redirects here. ... A broom shrub in flower A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and lower height, usually less than 6 m tall. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... ‹ The template below (Expand) is being considered for deletion. ... Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ... Cyme can refer to: Cyme, a botanical term a for a class of flower clusters (see inflorescence) characterized by the terminal flower in the cluster blooming first. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... A ripe red jalapeño cut open to show the seeds For other uses, see Seed (disambiguation). ...

Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant which causes excitement and euphoria. In 1980 the World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence, and the plant has been targeted by anti-drug organizations like the DEA.^[1] It is a controlled/illegal substance in many countries. Cathinone (β-ketoamphetamine) is a monoamine alkaloid found in the shrub Catha edulis (Khat). ... Amphetamine or Amfetamine(Alpha-Methyl-PHenEThylAMINE), also known as beta-phenyl-isopropylamine and benzedrine, is a prescription stimulant commonly used to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and children. ... Stimulants are drugs that temporarily increase alertness and wakefulness. ... Euphoria (Greek ) is a medically recognized emotional state related to happiness. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... WHO redirects here. ... The DEAs enforcement activities may take agents anywhere from distant countries to suburban U.S. homes. ...

History

The origins of khat are disputed. Some believe that it is Ethiopian in origin, from where it spread to the hillsides of East Africa and Yemen. Others believe that khat originated in Yemen before spreading to Ethiopia and nearby countries. Sir Richard Burton (First Footsteps in East Africa, 1856) explains that khat was introduced to the Yemen from Ethiopia in the 15th century. There is also evidence to suggest this may have occurred as early as the 13th century. Through botanical analysis, Revri (1983) supports Yemen origins of the plant.^[2] From Ethiopia and Yemen the trees spread to Kenya, Somalia, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Arabia, the Congo, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa.^[3] The earliest recorded use of khat medically is believed to be within the New Testament.^[4] The ancient Egyptians considered the khat plant a "divine food" which was capable of releasing humanity's divinity. The Egyptians used the plant for more than its stimulating effects. They used it as a metamorphic process and transcended into "apotheosis", intending to make the user god-like.^[5] Richard Burton, portrait by Frederic Leighton, National Portrait Gallery, London Sir Richard Francis Burton (March 19, 1821 - October 19, 1890), British consul, explorer, translator, and Orientalist, was born at Barham House, Hertfordshire, England. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula is a mainly desert peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia and an important part of the greater Middle East. ... This article is about the Christian scriptures. ...

In 1854, the Malay writer Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir noted that the custom of chewing Khat was prevalent in Al Hudaydah in Yemen: "I observed a new peculiarity in this city—everyone chewed leaves as goats chew the cud. There is a type of leaf, rather wide and about two fingers in length, which is widely sold, as people would consume these leaves just as they are; unlike betel leaves, which need certain condiments to go with them, these leaves were just stuffed fully into the mouth and munched. Thus when people gathered around, the remnants from these leaves would pile up in front of them. When they spat, their saliva was green. I then queried them on this matter: ‘What benefits are there to be gained from eating these leaves?’ To which they replied, ‘None whatsoever, it’s just another expense for us as we’ve grown accustomed to it’. Those who consume these leaves have to eat lots of ghee and honey, for they would fall ill otherwise. The leaves are known as Kad."^[6] Munshi Abdullah Bin Abdul Kadir (1796-1854) was a Malayan writer. ... Al Hudaydah (also written as Hodeidah) (Arabic: الحديدة) It is the fourth largest city in Yemen with a population of one million. ...

Cultivation and uses

Bundles of khat, captured by the DEA in July, 2006

Khat has been grown for use as a stimulant for centuries in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. There, chewing khat predates the use of coffee and is used in a similar social context. Its fresh leaves and tops are chewed or, less frequently, dried and consumed as tea, in order to achieve a state of euphoria and stimulation. Due to the availability of rapid, inexpensive air transportation, the drug has been reported in England, Rome, Amsterdam, Canada, Australia, New Zealand^[7] and the United States. The public has become more aware of this exotic drug through media reports pertaining to the United Nations mission in Somalia, where khat use is widespread, and its role in the Persian Gulf. The khat plant is known by a variety of names, such as qat and ghat in Yemen, chat in Ethiopia, jaad in Somalia and miraa in Kenya and Tanzania. Image File history File linksMetadata Deakhat. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Deakhat. ... The Horn of Africa. ... Arabia redirects here. ... For other uses, see Coffee (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Amsterdam (disambiguation). ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... Map of the Persian Gulf. ...

Khat use has traditionally been confined to the regions where khat is grown, because only the fresh leaves have the desired stimulating effects. In recent years improved roads, off-road motor vehicles and air transport have increased the global distribution of this perishable commodity. Traditionally, khat has been used as a socializing drug, and this is still very much the case in Yemen where khat-chewing is predominantly, although not exclusively, a male habit.^[8] In other countries, khat is consumed largely by single individuals and at parties. It is mainly a recreational drug in the countries which grow khat, though it may also be used by farmers and laborers for reducing physical fatigue and by drivers and students for improving attention. Within the counter-culture segments of the Kenyan elite population, Khat (referred to as "veve") is used to counter the effects of a hangover or binge-drinking, similar to the use of the coca leaf in South America. In Yemen some women have their own saloons for the occasion, and participate in chewing Khat with their husbands on weekends. In many places where grown, Khat has become mainstream enough for many children to start chewing the plant before puberty. For other uses, see Coca (disambiguation). ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

Khat is used for its mild euphoric and stimulating effects, and also has anorectic side-effects. It use is generally not limited by religion, though the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (along with its Eritrean counterpart) has forbidden Christians from using it due to its stimulating effects. In Yemen it is so popular that 40% of the country's water supply goes towards irrigating it, with production increasing by about 10% to 15% every year.^[8] The water supply of Sanaa is so threatened by the crop that government officials have even proposed relocating large portions of the city's population to the coast of the Red Sea.^[8] Anorectics, anorexigenics or appetite suppressants are drugs that reduce the desire to eat (anorectic, from the Greek an- = not and oreg- = extend, reach). (Anorectic is also a term for an anorexic person, a person suffering from Anorexia nervosa. ... The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (in Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ኦርቶዶክስ ተዋሕዶ ቤተክርስትያን Yäityopya ortodoks täwahedo bétäkrestyan) is an Oriental Orthodox church in Ethiopia that was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All... The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church is an Oriental Orthodox church. ... Sanaá (Arabic صنعاء, romanized as Ṣanʻāʼ, and also known as Sana or Sanaa), population 1,303,000 (2000), is the capital of Yemen. ... Location of the Red Sea The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. ...

In Somalia, the Supreme Islamic Courts Council, which took control of much of the country in 2006, banned khat during Ramadan, sparking street protests in Kismayo. In November 2006, Kenya banned all flights to Somalia, citing security concerns, prompting protests by Kenyan khat growers. The Kenyan MP from Ntonyiri, Meru North District stated that local land had been specialized in khat cultivation, that 20 tons worth $800,000 were shipped to Somalia daily and that a flight ban could devastate the local economy.^[9] With the victory of the Provisional Government backed by Ethiopian forces in the end of December 2006, khat has returned to the streets of Mogadishu, though Kenyan traders have noted demand has not yet returned to pre-ban levels.^[10] The flag of the Supreme Islamic Courts Council The Supreme Islamic Courts Council (or Conservative Council of Islamic Courts), as the Islamist militia called itself by July 2006, was called the Islamic Courts Union before 24 June 2006 (ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga, Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim al... This article is about Islamic religious observances in the month of Ramadan. ... Kismayo or Kismayu (Somali: ; Arabic: , transliteration: ; Italian: ) is a port city in the Jubbada Hoose region of Somalia and is the countrys third largest city (after Mogadishu and Hargeisa. ... Meru North District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya, located in that countrys Eastern Province. ...

Chemistry/pharmacology

The stimulant effect of the plant was originally attributed to "katin", cathine, a phenethylamine-type substance isolated from the plant. However, the attribution was disputed by reports showing the plant extracts from fresh leaves contained another substance more behaviorally active than cathine. In 1975, the related alkaloid cathinone was isolated, and its absolute configuration was established in 1978. Cathinone is not very stable and breaks down to produce cathine and norephedrine. These chemicals belong to the PPA (phenylpropanolamine) family, a subset of the phenethylamines related to amphetamines and the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine.^[11] Cathine (β-hydroxyamphetamine) is a monoamine alkaloid found in the shrub Catha edulis (khat). ... Phenethylamine, or β-Phenylethylamine, is an alkaloid and monoamine. ... Cathinone (β-ketoamphetamine) is a monoamine alkaloid found in the shrub Catha edulis (Khat). ... An absolute configuration in stereochemistry is the spatial arrangement of the atoms of a chiral molecular entity (or group)and its stereochemical description e. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a drug of the phenethylamine family used as a decongestant and also as an appetite suppressant. ... Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) is a drug of the phenethylamine family used as a decongestant and also as an appetite suppressant. ... Phenethylamine, or β-Phenylethylamine, is an alkaloid and monoamine. ... Amphetamine is a synthetic drug originally developed (and still used) as an appetite suppressant. ... tyrosine is the precursor of catecholamines epinephrine norepinephrine dopamine Synthesis Catecholamines are chemical compounds derived from the amino acid tyrosine containing catechol and amine groups. ... Adrenaline redirects here. ... Norepinephrine (INN)(abbr. ...

Both of khat's major active ingredients -cathine and cathinone- are phenylalklamines, meaning they are in the same class of chemicals as amphetamines. In fact, cathinone and cathine have a very similar molecular structure to amphetamine.^[12]

When khat leaves dry, the more potent chemical, cathinone, evaporates within 48 hours leaving behind the milder Schedule IV chemical, cathine. Thus, harvesters transport khat by packaging the leaves and stems in plastic bags or wrapping them in banana leaves to preserve their moisture and keep the cathinone potent. It is also common for them to sprinkle the plant with water frequently or use refrigeration during transportation.

When the khat leaves are chewed, cathine and cathinone are released and absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth and the lining of the stomach. The action of cathine and cathinone on the reuptake of epinephrine and norepinephrine has been demonstrated in lab animals, showing that one or both of these chemicals cause the body to recycle these neurotransmitters more slowly, resulting in the wakefulness and insomnia associated with khat use.^[13]

Receptors for serotonin show a high affinity for cathinone suggesting that this chemical is responsible for feelings of euphoria associated with chewing khat. In mice, cathinone produces the same types of nervous pacing or repetitive scratching behaviors associated with amphetamines.^[14] The effects of cathinone peak after 15 to 30 minutes with nearly 98% of the substance metabolized into norephedrine by the liver.^[15]

Cathine is somewhat less understood, being believed to act upon the adrenergenic receptors causing the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine.^[16] It has a half-life of about 3 hours in humans.

Effects

Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the drug and may appear to be unrealistic and emotionally unstable. Khat can induce manic behaviors and hyperactivity. Khat is an effective anorectic and its use also results in constipation. Dilated pupils (mydriasis), which are prominent during khat consumption, reflect the sympathomimetic effects of the drug, which are also reflected in increased heart rate and blood pressure. A state of drowsy hallucinations (hypnagogic hallucinations) may result coming down from khat use as well. Withdrawal symptoms that may follow prolonged khat use include lethargy, mild depression, nightmares, and slight tremor. Long term use can precipitate the following effects: negative impact on liver function, permanent tooth darkening (of a greenish tinge), susceptibility to ulcers, and diminished sex drive. Khat is usually not an addictive drug, although those who are addicted generally cannot stay without it for more than 4-5 days, feeling tired and having difficulty concentrating.^[17] A recent British study found khat to be much less dangerous than tobacco or alcohol.^[18] Euphoria (Greek ) is a medically recognized emotional state related to happiness. ... This article is an expansion of a section entitled Mania from within the main article Bipolar disorder. ... Anorectics, anorexigenics or appetite suppressants are drugs that reduce the desire to eat (anorectic, from the Greek an- = not and oreg- = extend, reach). (Anorectic is also a term for an anorexic person, a person suffering from Anorexia nervosa. ... Constipation or irregularity, is a condition of the digestive system where a person (or animal) experiences hard feces that are difficult to egest; it may be extremely painful, and in severe cases (fecal impaction) lead to symptoms of bowel obstruction. ... The human eye The pupil is the central transparent area (showing as black). ... A hallucination is a sensory perception experienced in the absence of an external stimulus, as distinct from an illusion, which is a misperception of an external stimulus. ... Hypnagogia (also spelled hypnogogia) describes vivid dream-like auditory, visual, or tactile sensations, which are often accompanied by sleep paralysis and experienced when falling asleep or waking up. ... Withdrawal, also known as withdrawal syndrome, refers to the characteristic signs and symptoms that appear when a drug that causes physical dependence is regularly used for a long time and then suddenly discontinued or decreased in dosage. ... The term symptom (from the Greek meaning chance, mishap or casualty, itself derived from συμπιπτω meaning to fall upon or to happen to) has two similar meanings in the context of physical and mental health: Strictly, a symptom is a sensation or change in health function experienced by a patient. ... On the Threshold of Eternity. ... The current usage of the term nightmare refers to a dream which causes the sleeper a strong unpleasant emotional response. ... For the film see Tremors (film). ...

User population

It is estimated that several million people are frequent users of khat. Many of the users originate from countries between Sudan and Madagascar and in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, especially Yemen. In Yemen, 60% of the males and 35% of the females were found to be khat users who had chewed daily for long periods of their life. The traditional form of khat chewing in Yemen involves only male users; khat chewing by females is less formal and less frequent. In Saudi Arabia, the cultivation and consumption of khat are forbidden, and the ban is strictly enforced. The ban on khat is further supported by the clergy on the grounds that the Qur'an forbids anything that is harmful to the body. In Somalia, 61% of the population reported that they do use khat, 18% report habitual use, and 21% are occasional users. ^{[citation needed]} Arabia redirects here. ...

Control status

World

In 1965, the World Health Organization Expert Committee on Dependence-producing Drugs' Fourteenth Report noted, "The Committee was pleased to note the resolution of the Economic and Social Council with respect to khat, confirming the view that the abuse of this substance is a regional problem and may best be controlled at that level" [4]. For this reason, khat was not Scheduled under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. In 1980 the World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence. Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... WHO redirects here. ... The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations assists the General Assembly in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development. ... Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs Opened for signature March 30, 1961 at New York Entered into force December 13, 1964[1] Conditions for entry into force 40 ratifications Parties 180[2] The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs is the international treaty against illicit drug manufacture and trafficking that forms the... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Australia

In Australia, the importation of khat is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations. Individual users may apply for several required licenses to import up to 5 kg per month for personal use (primarily immigrants from the Horn of Africa). In 2003, the total number of khat annual permits was 294 and the total number of individual khat permits was 202.

There are two types of import permits. The single use Permit to Import can be used only once and you must request a new permit for each time you wish to import khat. Annual Permits are labeled as such and consist of two pages. Annual Permits allow you to import up to 5 kg once a month for up to twelve months.

Canada

In Canada, khat is a controlled substance under Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Every person who seeks or obtains the substance without disclosing authorization to obtain such substances 30 days prior to obtaining another prescription from a practitioner is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding eighteen months, where the subject-matter of the offence is a substance included in Schedule IV or is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both, and for a subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both. [5] [6] The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is Canadas federal drug control statute. ...

Denmark

Khat is an illegal and controlled substance from 1993.

France

Khat is prohibited in France as a stimulant.^[19]

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, Khat enjoys a legal status and is sold in several cities, such as Uithoorn and Tilburg. Uithoorn (population: 26,763 in 2004) is a town in the north-western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. ... Tilburg ( (help· info)) is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant. ...

Germany

In Germany, Cathine is a controlled substance, and ownership and sale of the plant is illegal. Similar levels of control exist throughout most other European countries.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, Cathine & Cathinone are regulated under Schedule 1 of Hong Kong's Chapter 134 Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. It can only be used legally by health professionals and for university research purposes. The substance can be given by pharmacists under a prescription. Anyone who supplies the substance without prescription can be fined $10,000(HKD). The penalty for trafficking or manufacturing the substance is a $5,000,000 (HKD) fine and life imprisonment. Possession of the substance for consumption without license from the Department of Health is illegal with a $1,000,000 (HKD) fine and/or 7 years of jail time.

Israel

Khat is still used by some people of Yemeni origins. Traditionally, it is chewed on Saturday afternoons while reading the Zohar. The leaves are legal, but the cathonine extract pill called 'Hagigat' (a joining of the Hebrew word Hagiga (party), and Gat (khat)), is currently illegal. Khat is also grown in backyards of many Yemenites, but is becoming more popular with other ethnic groups in Israel. The more potent strain from Ethiopia is flown in daily and is available for purchasing. The Zohar (Hebrew זהר Splendor, radiance) is widely considered the most important work of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. ...

New Zealand

Khat plant is a Schedule 3 (Class C) drug in New Zealand, but is rarely encountered although occasional seizures at airports have been reported. Mature khat trees which were established before the plant became scheduled in 1998 do not have to be destroyed, but it is illegal to gather the leaves or otherwise prepare the plant for consumption.

Norway

Khat is classified as a narcotic drug and is illegal to use, sell and possess. Most users are Somali immigrants and khat is smuggled from the Netherlands and England.^[20] 19th century Heroin bottle This article is about the drug classification. ...

Somalia

On November 17, 2006 the usage and distribution of khat was made illegal according to Somali Islamists in areas they control.^[21] In Somalia, the Supreme Islamic Courts Council, which took control of much of the country in 2006, banned khat during Ramadan, sparking street protests in Kismayo. In November 2006, Kenya banned all flights to Somalia, citing security concerns, prompting protests by Kenyan khat growers. The Kenyan MP from Ntonyiri, Meru North District stated that local land had been specialized in khat cultivation, that 20 tons worth US$800,000 were shipped to Somalia daily and that a flight ban could devastate the local economy.^[22] With the surprise victory of the Provisional Government backed by Ethiopian forces in the end of December 2006, khat has returned to the streets of Mogadishu, though Kenyan traders have noted demand has not yet returned to pre-ban levels.^[23] The flag of the Supreme Islamic Courts Council The Supreme Islamic Courts Council (or Conservative Council of Islamic Courts), as the Islamist militia called itself by July 2006, was called the Islamic Courts Union before 24 June 2006 (ICU, Somali: Midowga Maxkamadaha Islaamiga, Arabic: اتحاد المحاكم الإسلامية Ittihād al-mahākim al... This article is about Islamic religious observances in the month of Ramadan. ... Kismayo or Kismayu (Somali: ; Arabic: , transliteration: ; Italian: ) is a port city in the Jubbada Hoose region of Somalia and is the countrys third largest city (after Mogadishu and Hargeisa. ... Meru North District is one of the seventy-one districts of Kenya, located in that countrys Eastern Province. ...

Sweden

As in Norway, khat is classified as a narcotic drug in Sweden and is illegal to use, sell and possess. According to the police, most users are Somali immigrants and most khat is smuggled in from the Netherlands and England. For more information, see the Swedish police website on khat (text in Swedish).

Switzerland

Khat is prohibited in Switzerland as a stimulant.^[24]

United Kingdom

Khat is not a controlled substance in the United Kingdom. Because of this, and because of khat's short shelf life, the UK serves as a main gateway for khat being sent by air to North America.[7] Shelf-life is the length of time that corresponds to a tolerable loss in quality of a processed food. ...

Khat is used by members of the Somali and Yemeni community (mainly men), which is concentrated in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and Sheffield. It is currently legal, although there are calls from some sections of the Somali community for it to be banned. In the UK, Cathine and Cathinone are Class C drugs. The plant Catha edulis is uncontrolled. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the British city. ... This article is about the English city. ... This article is about the capital city of Wales. ... This article is about the City of Manchester in England. ... For other uses, see Sheffield (disambiguation). ... The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 is an Act of Parliament, by which the United Kingdom aims to control the possession and supply of numerous drugs and drug-like substances, as listed under the Act, and to enable international co-operation against illegal drug trafficking. ...

United States

In the United States, Cathine is in Schedule IV and cathinone is in Schedule I of the U.S. Controlled Substance Act. The 1993 DEA rule placing cathinone in Schedule I noted that it was effectively also banning khat. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, is the legal foundation of the United States governments fight against the abuse of drugs and other substances. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The DEAs enforcement activities may take agents anywhere from distant countries to suburban U.S. homes. ...

Cathinone is the major psychoactive component of the plant Catha edulis (khat). The young leaves of khat are chewed for a stimulant effect. Enactment of this rule results in the placement of any material which contains cathinone into Schedule I.

Over 700 pounds of khat was seized by Philadelphia police officers in September, 2007. The khat was recovered after being shipped to Philadelphia in containers[8]. KYW-TV reported the seizure is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, although in December 2004, 52 pounds of khat was seized by Pennsylvania State Police in Sugarloaf Township in Luzerne County, which was being transported by Shafi Brmaji, an Ethiopian who had been in the U.S. for 16 years[9]. Because the drug is cheaper than cocaine, sources said it has an economic appeal, a fact that also worries authorities. KYW-TV, channel 3, is a television station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, owned by the CBS Corporation and affiliated with the CBS Television Network. ...

See also

Qat in Yemen Qat is a large, slow growing, evergreen shrub, reaching a height of between 1 and 5 metres, in equatorial regions it may reach a height of 10 meters. ...

References

• Hilton-Taylor (1998). Catha edulis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
• "Somali Islamists are gone -- so "khat" is back!", Reuters, January 2 2007
• Dale Pendell, Pharmakodynamis: Stimulating Plants, Potions and Herbcraft: Excitantia and Empathogenica, San Francisco: Mercury House, 2002.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Dale Pendell is a contemporary author who combines science and poetry in his explications of psychoactive compounds. ...

Notes

December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... April 8 is the 98th day of the year (99th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pronounced is known as a financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Reuters Group plc (LSE: RTR and NASDAQ: RTRSY); pronounced is known as a financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from around the world to newspapers and broadcasters. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• How to chew qat
• BBC News: In pictures... growing khat
• Drugs.com, Complete Khat Information
• Esquire "High in Hell"
• Erowid Khat Vault
• Growing Catha Edulis (Khat)
• BBC: Getting to grips with khat in Somaliland
• BBC: Harmless habit or dangerous drug?
• Australian Government : Therapeutic Goods Administration Khat Importation Kit
• Dozens Arrested Nationwide in Drug Case
• Qat news page - Alcohol and Drugs History Society (ADHS)
  • Khat news page (ADHS)
• Seattle arrest - Khat and the Somalian community
• Village Voice article on khat