Khat -- is it more coffee or cocaine?

LA Times ^ | 03 Jan 2009 | Cynthia Dizikes

[BGHater]

The narcotic leaf is a time-honored tradition in Africa but illegal in the U.S., where demand is growing.

Reporting from Washington -- In the heart of the Ethiopian community here, a group of friends gathered after work in an office to chew on dried khat leaves before going home to their wives and children. Sweet tea and sodas stood on a circular wooden table between green mounds of the plant, a mild narcotic grown in the Horn of Africa.

As the sky grew darker the conversation became increasingly heated, flipping from religion to jobs to local politics. Suddenly, one of the men paused and turned in his chair. "See, it is the green leaf," he said, explaining the unusually animated discussion as he pinched a few more leaves together and tossed them into his mouth.

For centuries the "flower of paradise" has been used legally in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula as a stimulant and social tonic.

But in the United States khat is illegal, and an increased demand for the plant in cities such as Washington and San Diego is leading to stepped up law enforcement efforts and escalating clashes between narcotics officers and immigrants who defend their use of khat as a time-honored tradition.

In the last few years, San Diego, which has a large Somali population, has seen an almost eight-fold increase in khat seizures. Nationally, the amount of khat seized annually at the country's ports of entry has grown from 14 metric tons to 55 in about the last decade.

Most recently, California joined 27 other states and the federal government in banning the most potent substance in khat, and the District of Columbia is proposing to do the same.

[BGHater]

FR-Khat

[sinanju]

Everything I ever read about khat is that it’s an expensive time and money-waster. The principle social cost in the countries where it’s chewed is that the menfolk spend money they cannot afford on it and spend hours each day, chewing and shooting the s-—t when they should be working.

Only during our Somali misadventure did the media discover it and start spreading rumors of it turning teenage milita members into berserker psychos. Malarkey.

Although, I’m quite sure a synthetic refined version could be just as bad as cocaine from coca leaves the plain leaf is relatively benign.

[DBrow]

“Although, I’m quite sure a synthetic refined version “

Yup cathinone is available.

And you can take cold pills and certain tropical fish tank medicines and make methcathinone, which is more potent.

You nailed the root of the problem- the media learned of a new way to get high and the feds made it Schedule 1 (with heroin, cocaine, and cannabis) to keep us save. Now Somali immigrants get busted for possession and go to jail.

[CIDKauf]

“Everything I ever read about khat is that it’s an expensive time and money-waster. The principle social cost in the countries where it’s chewed is that the menfolk spend money they cannot afford on it and spend hours each day, chewing and shooting the s-—t when they should be working” we call it beer.

[RonF]

But in the United States khat is illegal, and an increased demand for the plant in cities such as Washington and San Diego is leading to stepped up law enforcement efforts and escalating clashes between narcotics officers and immigrants who defend their use of khat as a time-honored tradition. So what? Use of alcohol is a time-honored tradition in the U.S., but what would your Moslem brothers do if we traveled to Somalia and demanded to use it there? Just because something is a time-honored tradition where you come from doesn't mean it has to be accomodated where you go.

[Rudder]

I doubt, as the article claims, khat is both a stimulant and a narcotic. But don't blame Cynthia Dizikes, she's only a journalist.

[SunkenCiv]

Florida Biochemist designs a citrus tree with THC
The Crit | 05 Oct 2008 | The Crit
Posted on 01/05/2009 8:07:50 AM PST by BGHater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2158990/posts