Alpha Blondy Posted January 23, 2013 The UK government's official drugs advisory body has rejected calls to ban the herbal stimulant, khat. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) said there was "insufficient evidence" that khat caused health problems. The stimulant is traditionally used by members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities. It has been outlawed by the US and Canada and in most European countries, most recently by the Netherlands. The review was commissioned by the Home Office. The ACMD said there was "no evidence" khat, which contain the stimulant cathinone, was directly linked with serious or organised crime. It said khat, which consists of the leaves and shoots of a shrub cultivated in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, was chewed to obtain a "mild stimulant effect much less potent than stimulant drugs, such as amphetamine". Khat is sold in bundles for about £3 to £6 each. Users often chew one or two bundles for up to six hours at a time. Prevention education Somali groups in the UK had told the council that use of khat, which acts as a stimulant when chewed, was a "significant social problem". Campaigners said it caused medical problems and family breakdowns. The herb also triggers withdrawal symptoms such as tiredness, depression, shaking and bad dreams, although the ACMD said this did not necessarily provide evidence of dependency. But ACMD chairman Professor Les Iversen said the review "found insufficient evidence of either health or societal harms caused by the use of khat to justify its control in the UK". He added: "We have listened to concerns of the community and recommend local authorities and the police address these through continued engagement." The council's vice-chairman, Dr Hew Mathewson, said he gave "no credence" to links between the khat trade and the funding of al-Shabaab, the Somali-based cell of al-Qaeda. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote [it's] just the sort of rational thinking that we need more of in the drug policy debate.” David Nutt Former ACMD chairman The ACMD recommended that the NHS should include khat in prevention education when necessary and called on local authorities and police commissioners to engage with communities "to address any concerns of khat use causing social harm". Tonnes imported It also said khat usage data should be included in information provided by treatment and enforcement agencies so it could be examined in future research. More than 2,500 tonnes of khat, worth about £13.8m, was imported by the UK in 2011/12, bringing in £2.8m of tax revenues, the ACMD added. The report was supported by a former chairman of the ACMD. David Nutt, who was sacked in 2009 by the then home secretary after claiming ecstasy and LSD were less dangerous than alcohol, said: "Its evidenced, measured recommendation to use current legislation and community measures to address the relatively low harms of khat is just the sort of rational thinking that we need more of in the drug policy debate." The members of the ACMD makes recommendations to ministers on issues including the classification of substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the decision on khat was not unanimous and some members were understood to be unhappy. Our correspondent said press reports had suggested that the government might now conduct its own review of the substance. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21165676 ------------- LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL@ futile efforts of those who tried to ban Khat. go and wash the embarrassment of your faces. its here to stay and it ain't going NOWHERE. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
underdog Posted January 23, 2013 I never understood the need for a khat ban. like anything else, if you don't like it, don't part-take in it. Very progressive of the UK to adopt a hands off policy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Blondy Posted January 23, 2013 all that effort = futile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
underdog Posted January 23, 2013 LOL, that time could have been better spent sitting down to nice majin and shaah and discussing why they want to kill the buzz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Blondy Posted January 23, 2013 Unders, i sort of know this guy. he's made the anti-khat crusade into a mashruuc and his life's mission. it's highly unlikely he's unaware of this rejection. i would love to gauge his reaction on this latest rejection. as Awale Abukar aka the Khat Man: ''really, we are disappointed with it [ban rejection], it's really bad for the community. this dangerous drug has really impacted the somalian community. the UK government has not listened to us. we will continue on with our actions against this khat. who is going to ban Khat without an effective lobby? this so called activist needs to find better things to do with his time. does he think all khat chewers are wasting away like some crack addicts. too many self-appointed community activists around these days. specialism like khat addiction, FGM and asylum have NO practical application to the vast majority of somalis in the UK. these community leaders are pathetic and seem to follow the funding streams for survival. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Salahudin Posted January 23, 2013 I have a feeling that this rejection is due to effective lobbying by the Kenyan khat merchant lobbysts.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
underdog Posted January 23, 2013 I guess 2.8m in tax revenue and 0 death count trumps his imagined impact. Moderate chewers aside, I've had the misfortune to see the people holed up in those marfishes and I'm in favour of keeping them there. I seriously doubt any grown-a$$ man/woman who prioritizes khat over all else will suddenly go out and get a job and bee home to tuck his/her kids into bed because of a khat ban. Awale needs to stop sippin' that haterade and find another cause...maybe polygamy....nope that one falls in the 'mind your own business' category too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Blondy Posted January 23, 2013 underdog;911635 wrote: I guess 2.8m in tax revenue and 0 death count trumps his imagined impact. Moderate chewers aside, I've had the misfortune to see the people holed up in those marfishes and I'm in favour of keeping them there. I seriously doubt any grown-a$$ man/woman who prioritizes khat over all else will suddenly go out and get a job and bee home to tuck his/her kids into bed because of a khat ban. Awale needs to stop sippin' that haterade and find another cause...maybe polygamy....nope that one falls in the 'mind your own business' category too . kkkkkkkkkkk@Unders, classic statement! the sacred values of freedom and privacy must at ALL times given priority. too sad, its been trampled on these days by too many nanny-state policies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
underdog Posted January 23, 2013 I agree 100%, Alpha Salahudin;911634 wrote: I have a feeling that this rejection is due to effective lobbying by the Kenyan khat merchant lobbysts.... These guys are currently lobbying in the United States. We might just see a cautious easing of restrictions on it in the US as soon as they figure out how to correctly tax it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alpha Blondy Posted January 23, 2013 LOL@Apo, you'd like all sorts to be decriminalised somaha? khat is an exception but i wouldn't stretch the threshold that far. i called a few friends with the news and they were happy. LOL. Freedom 1-0 Nanny State LOL. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fuqdinley Posted January 23, 2013 dit is een flicker Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fuqdinley Posted January 23, 2013 the dutch have failed totally. Ex-minister leers was a washout of the christian democrats party and a failure in the current political picture. UK and its politicians understand what KHAT is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nuune Posted January 23, 2013 Abshir, mar hadii la reject gareeyey, now I need laantii curdunka aheyd Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Malika Posted January 23, 2013 I wonder how much Abshir has made with this project - illen there is money to be made from 'Somali Issues'..lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nuune Posted January 24, 2013 ^^ hehehe actually Abshir is not a person in this case, waa my usual excitement expressing of this great news, abshir means farxad, or waa bishaaro iyo bil kheyr, it is an ancient expression, only used by old people, if you already knew what I meant as being bishaaro, then welcome to the oldie club lol Mar marka qaarkood waa lagu guraa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
