Ancient Egyptian imperial cults regarded the khat plant as a sacred substance capable of realizing a user`s divinity. However, two of its active substances, cathinone and cathine, are classified in Class C. [57] 5. The economic importance of khat in producing countries has increased, partly due to the expansion of trade with the EU. The development and drug control policies of these countries require coordination and awareness of the possible impact of European control measures. 6. The number of khat users in Europe appears to be increasing, but the extent and nature of the problem is poorly understood. Research studies are therefore needed to better assess the drug market, changes in consumption patterns and the extent of socio-economic and health impacts. (2) The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) reported that 5 to 7 tonnes of khat were imported into the United Kingdom daily during the first six months of 2005. Much of this activity was carried out in transit to non-European destinations. Miraa is legal in Uganda, but there are efforts (as of October 2015) to ban it. [59] Hundreds of Israelis, many of them young people from poor backgrounds, reportedly received between NIS 2,000 and NIS 5,000 ($580 to $1,440) to take suitcases full of khat abroad. In South America, there is no legislation concerning khat; The plant`s active ingredients can be found in several weight control compounds sold on the continent.
[135] Catha edulis (khat) is a stimulant similar to that of amphetamine and its congeners, and not a drug as defined by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and FDA Import Warning #66-23 (published 3/18/2011) stating that “districts may withhold all khat entries without physical examination,” [125] Based on Section 801(a)(3) of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act on the grounds that “its labeling does not contain adequate instructions for use.” In Australia, the importation of khat is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. It is illegal to import khat into Australia for personal use. Khat can only be imported for medical or scientific purposes. [129] In the Netherlands, the active substances khat, cathine and cathinone are considered hard drugs and are prohibited. The use is mainly limited to the Somali community. [83] In 2008, Health Minister Ab Klink, after consulting with experts, decided not to classify the unprocessed plant as a medicine. [84] However, on January 9, 2012, the Dutch government announced the ban on khat.
[85] On January 23, 2013, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) stated that there was “insufficient evidence” that khat causes health problems. The ACMD said there was “no evidence” that khat was directly linked to serious or organized crime and that it was chewed to produce a “mild stimulant effect much less potent than stimulants such as amphetamine.” [106] Traditionally, khat is used as a socializing drug, as in Yemen, where chewing khat is primarily a male habit. [20] Khat is so popular in Yemen that its cultivation consumes much of the country`s agricultural resources. It is estimated that 40% of Yemen`s water supply is for irrigation[21], with production increasing by about 10% to 15% each year. A “daily bag” of khat requires about 500 liters (130 US gallons) of water to produce. [22] Water consumption is high and the water table in the Sana`a Basin is declining, so government officials have proposed moving much of Sana`a`s population to the Red Sea coast. [20] The stimulating effect of the plant was originally attributed to “katin”, cathine, a phenethylamine-like substance isolated from the plant. However, the attribution was challenged by reports showing that fresh leaf plant extracts contained a different substance that was more behaviorally active than cathine.