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| Herbal stimulant khat to be banned | Herbal stimulant khat to be banned |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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 herbal stimulant khat is to be banned by the government, against the advice of its own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. |
| 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, saying the risks posed could have been underestimated. | But Home Secretary Theresa May has decided to ban it, saying the risks posed could have been underestimated. |
| Khat will be treated as a class C drug, like anabolic steroids and ketamine. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| Khat is already banned in most of Europe and in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada. | Khat is already banned in most of Europe and in a number of other countries, including the US and Canada. |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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' | '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. |
| 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 containing 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. | 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. |
| A government spokesman said ministers wanted to allow police officers to use their discretion when dealing with low-level possession offences, much in the same way they approach those carrying cannabis for personal use. | A government spokesman said ministers wanted to allow police officers to use their discretion when dealing with low-level possession offences, much in the same way they approach those carrying cannabis for personal use. |
| But repeat and serious offenders would face criminal sanctions, the spokesman added. | But repeat and serious offenders would face criminal sanctions, the spokesman added. |
| Chief Constable Andy Bliss, speaking for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said "there could be a case" for treating khat possession in this way. | Chief Constable Andy Bliss, speaking for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said "there could be a case" for treating khat possession in this way. |
| "A first offence by an adult generally attracts a warning and a second the issuing of a penalty notice, before escalating to arrest and prosecution," he said. | "A first offence by an adult generally attracts a warning and a second the issuing of a penalty notice, before escalating to arrest and prosecution," he said. |
| "We will explore this possibility with the Home Office and with the College of Policing over forthcoming weeks." | "We will explore this possibility with the Home Office and with the College of Policing over forthcoming weeks." |