Eskay Jones Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 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. 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". 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. 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. "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." Should it be banned? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thizz Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Southall right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heero Yuy Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Don't know much about it but I do know Teresa May is one of the G.O.A.T cunts, even for a Tory. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtis Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 lol sales are just gonna increase "ah fam.. why did they ban it though? must be live" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thun Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Makes total sense banning something that aint harmful but allow alcohol which causes violence and death Can't take these pathetic laws seriously any more 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuffir Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Don't know much about it but I do know Teresa May is one of the G.O.A.T cunts, even for a Tory. hundred percent, total rotter / wnt rele make a difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskay Jones Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 To be honest if it wasnt so widely used within somali and yemenese culture im sure the employment rates would have been much higher instead of men becoming zombies as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurtis Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 wait, if theres a lack of evidence then wheres the evidence to ban it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thun Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 To be honest if it wasnt so widely used within somali and yemenese culture im sure the employment rates would have been much higher instead of men becoming zombies as such. Probably better off with khat then alcohol tbh Only have to look at certain countries to know the damaged it has caused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heero Yuy Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Makes total sense banning something that aint harmful but allow alcohol which causes violence and death Can't take these pathetic laws seriously any more Nobody wants to relive the prohibition era v2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thun Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 I'm up for letting people consuming it but don't ban other substances that are less harmful and try force me to have alcohol or nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heero Yuy Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 I'm up for letting people consuming it but don't ban other substances that are less harmful and try force me to have alcohol or nothing The whole system is bad joke tbh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 dogs will still chew on the sticks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavis Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Alcohol is the most harmful drug there is, until they ban that anything they say about public health is a load of shit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stacksbranning Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 To be honest if it wasnt so widely used within somali and yemenese culture im sure the employment rates would have been much higher instead of men becoming zombies as such. I agree with this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Infamous Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 di chat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
local Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Alcohol is the most harmful drug there is, that's debatable also incorrect u still blazin in the mornings beev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yuri Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 does this really affect anyone except somalis and yemenis tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Somalian Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 I feel for the people who will now lose their jobs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eskay Jones Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 dogs will still chew on the sticks Silly little girl go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 really? go chew on a bone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadow Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 only windin u up eskay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Somalian Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 Eskay what are they saying will it be banned in all of the eu I know the dutch done it a few months ago then they put a bbc report on the news looked like a thriving industry but they also mentioned the mental illness issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black. Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 They can't make money off it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 90210 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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