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Herbal stimulant khat to be banned Herbal stimulant khat to be banned
(about 1 hour later)
The herbal stimulant drug khat is to be banned, the BBC understands. The herbal stimulant khat is to be banned by the government, against the advice of its own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
The decision goes against the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), the government's official advisory body.
In January the ACMD said khat should remain a legal substance, saying there was "insufficient evidence" it caused health problems.In January the ACMD said khat should remain a legal substance, saying there was "insufficient evidence" it caused health problems.
But Home Secretary Theresa May has decided to ban it, BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said. But Home Secretary Theresa May has decided to ban it, saying the risks posed could have been underestimated.
An official statement is expected shortly. Khat will be treated as a class C drug - like ketamine and anabolic steroids.
'Mild stimulant' It is already banned in most of Europe and in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada.
Mrs May's decision is thought to be based on wider security and international considerations, in particular the use of the UK as a transit route for khat to other European countries, our correspondent said. The UK's decision to follow suit is based on security and international considerations, in particular concerns the UK could be used as a transit route for khat to other European countries.
"Failure to take decisive action and change the UK's legislative position on khat would place the UK at a serious risk of becoming a single, regional hub for the illegal onward trafficking," Mrs May said in a statement.
But campaigners said they were "disappointed and concerned" at the government's decision to reject the advisory council's advice.
"A more proportionate alternative to banning khat and criminalising its use would have been an import ban or making it a supply offence only as applies, for example, to controlled anabolic steroids," said Martin Barnes from charity Drugscope.
'Significant social problem'
Khat is traditionally used by members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities.Khat is traditionally used by members of the Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities.
It is already illegal in most European countries, as well as the US and Canada.
The Home Office commissioned a review by the ACMD and, reporting its results in January, it said chewing khat produced a "mild stimulant effect much less potent than stimulant drugs, such as amphetamine".The Home Office commissioned a review by the ACMD and, reporting its results in January, it said chewing khat produced a "mild stimulant effect much less potent than stimulant drugs, such as amphetamine".
The ACMD found "no evidence" khat, made from leaves and shoots of a shrub cultivated in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and contains the stimulant cathinone, was directly linked with serious or organised crime. The ACMD found "no evidence" khat, made from leaves and shoots of a shrub cultivated in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and containing the stimulant cathinone, was directly linked with serious or organised crime.
But the government said on Wednesday that it was concerned that a lack of evidence could have led the ACMD to underestimate the risk to communities posed by the drug.
Somali groups in the UK had told the ACMD that use of khat was a "significant social problem" and said it caused medical issues and family breakdowns.Somali groups in the UK had told the ACMD that use of khat was a "significant social problem" and said it caused medical issues and family breakdowns.
The ACMD said withdrawal symptoms such as tiredness and depression were associated with khat, and recommended that the NHS should educate the public about these where necessary.The ACMD said withdrawal symptoms such as tiredness and depression were associated with khat, and recommended that the NHS should educate the public about these where necessary.
The Home Office said the ban was intended to "protect vulnerable members of our communities" and would be brought in at the "earliest possible opportunity".