Drug policy advisory groups slams U.K. khat ban decision - FreshFruitPortal.com

Drug policy advisory groups slams U.K. khat ban decision

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Drug policy advisory groups slams U.K. khat ban decision

The ban and criminalization of the chewable leaf khat (Catha edulis) will not stop the demand for it amongst African communities in the U.K., but instead create a criminal network and black market operation, according to a drug policy advisory group.

As of yesterday, the trade, possession and use of khat ā€“ a chewable leaf used in the countries of the West African Horn ā€“ is now a criminal offense as the British government classifies the plant as a Class C drug, in the same category as ecstasy GHB (gammahydroxybutrate) and anabolic steroids.

U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May lobbied for the ban representing the views of Somali, Kenyan and Ethiopian communities in London and other U.K. cities and towns affected by khat and the health and social problems associated with it.

Over the last decade khat use has spread into Europe and the rest of the world following the mass migration of people from the Horn of Africa. It is already illegal in the majority of the EU member states, the U.S. and Canada. Until now it has been legal in the U.K., which has become a key export market for African producers.

Many people opposed to khat claim Britain, as the leading market, has become an international distribution hub for smugglers en route to other countries where there is already a ban but demand remains strong.

In some areas of London and elsewhere, 'khat cafes' operate as social spaces for men to unwind and use the recreational herbal stimulant, which gives some users a mild high or 'physiological excitation and euphoria', giving way to 'a gradual comedown which may include restlessness, irritability and melancholia', according to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

Photo: eesti, via Flickr Creative Commons

Photo: eesti, via Flickr Creative Commons

Many say this causes a division between users (mostly men) and their families and leads to a lack of integration in British society and family breakdowns.

In addition, there are serious health concerns over chewing the plant such as issues linked to drug introduced psychosis, dental problems and fears it could lead to mouth cancer.

However, the khat trade between the U.K. and Africa has been worth millions in the past and the ban has led to some concerns for bilateral trade relations.

The Global Drug Policy Observatory (GDPO) analyzed the impact of a khat ban and passed on its findings to the U.K. Government, concluding 'there is currently no plausible evidence base for the legislation'. Despite this, the ban and criminalization of the plant is now under effect.

"The loss of the Ā£15 million (US$25.5 million) p.a. khat export markets to the U.K. will be deleterious for khat farmers in east Africa, for bilateral UK-Kenyan relations, and it will be destabilizing in Kenya, where authorities are under domestic pressure to challenge the U.K. decision," the GDPO reports says.

The GDPO says the ban will not stop demand but instead 'generate an illicit market functioning at elevated prices'. In the U.S., the price per kilogram (2.2 pounds) rose from US$12 to US$500 following criminalization. The organization also claims the price premium attached to khat will 'incentivize criminal organization to enter distribution activities.'

In the countries of the West African Horn the plant is considered part of the culture. Traditionally it was used for its perceived medical qualities and for religious contemplation but in modern society is it used much more recreationally.

The report explains there has been a 13-fold increase in khat production between 1982 and 2012. With the area under cultivation increasing from 8,000 hectares to more than 100,000 hectares in Africa, khat contributes Ā£2.8 million (US$4.7m) in annual tax revenues to the U.K. government, generates an estimated Ā£15 million (US$25.4m) per year and employment for 500,000 khat farmers in the Horn of Africa.

Khat is also Ethiopia's third-largest export after coffee and gold, and until it was banned in European member states in January 2013, the Netherlands was a central distribution point for khat markets in Germany and Scandinavia, with approximately 843 metric tonsĀ  (MT)valued at ā‚¬14 million (US$19m) imported into the country.

Karen Bradley, Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime, issued a statement on the khat ban yesterday.

"It is illegal to posses, supply or import and export the drug khat from today (June 24). The decision to make khat a Class C drug was taken to address the risk of health and social harms associated with the use of the drugs and to prevent the UK from becoming a regional khat smuggling hub for the illicit drugs trade," she said.

"Drug misuse has a serious impact on our society and the ban on khat will protect some of the most vulnerable people living in U.K. communities. Many British Somalis were especially vocal in sharing their concerns about health and social damage they believed was caused by khatā€¦ they share our view that the control of khat can deliver real and positive changes to family life, community cohesion, health and the economy.

"The government has put in place an escalation policy for the possession of khat for personal use, similar to that in effect for cannabis."

Anyone caught trafficking or supplying khat will now face up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.

"Border Force officers have taken a number of steps to detect and seize any khat that people attempt to smuggle into the U.K. at the border, and those responsibly will face the risk of prosecution."

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