Khat In Austria: Legal Or Illegal?

Khat, a flowering shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of the Catha edulis plant. While it is consumed in its natural state in some countries, it is illegal in most of the EU and the US. In Austria, three Somalian refugees were detained in 2017 for smuggling 582 kilograms of khat.

Khat is illegal in most EU countries

Khat, a flowering shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, is illegal in most EU countries. The legality of khat varies by region and country. While it is not controlled by international law, it is treated as an illegal drug in 15 of the 27 EU member states and in Norway.

Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, a stimulant that causes increased sociability, excitement, mild loss of appetite, and mild euphoria. It has been widely used since the 13th century as a recreational drug by the indigenous people of East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East. The largest producers/exporters of khat are Ethiopia and Kenya, while the largest consumers are Eastern Africans, particularly Somalis, and nearby Yemen.

In the EU, the use of khat is limited to countries with immigrant communities from countries where khat use is common, such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. The two main entry points for khat into Europe are the UK (London) and the Netherlands (Amsterdam), where it is imported, traded, and consumed legally as a vegetable product. However, khat is illegal in many European countries, including Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, and most of Scandinavia.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has identified khat as a controlled substance across the EU. Khat is a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence, although the World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider khat addiction to be a serious global problem.

Khat is a flowering shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

Khat, or Catha edulis, is a flowering shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is a slender evergreen tree or shrub that can grow to a height of 1-5 metres, though it can reach up to 10 metres in equatorial areas. The plant is slow-growing and usually thrives in arid environments, with a temperature range of 5-35 degrees Celsius.

Khat has a long history of cultivation, originating in the Harar area of eastern Ethiopia and subsequently introduced to nearby countries in East Africa and Southern Arabia, most notably Yemen. It is an important cash crop in Yemen, Somalia, and Ethiopia and is often cultivated in areas that do not support other agricultural plants. The shrub's flowers are small with five white petals, produced on short axillary cymes that are 4-8 cm in length.

Khat contains stimulant substances, including cathinone and cathine, which have amphetamine-like properties. These substances are released when the young leaves and buds of the plant are chewed, inducing mild euphoria and excitement. The plant has been used for centuries as a recreational and religious drug by natives of Eastern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Middle East. In these regions, khat-chewing is a social custom, especially among men, dating back thousands of years.

The legality of khat varies across the world. While it is legal in some countries where its use is culturally significant, it is classified as a controlled substance or illegal in many regions, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, India, Jordan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

The legality of khat varies by region and country

In the UAE, the punishment for possession, use, or distribution of khat can include life imprisonment. By contrast, its production, sale, and consumption are all fully legal—or not mentioned in a legal context at all—in the nations where its use is culturally significant, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen. In Israel, only the consumption of the plant's leaves in its natural state is permitted; "khat extracts" are illegal.

Khat is illegal in Morocco, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In the US, cathinone, the active ingredient in khat, is a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety. In California, both the plant itself and cathinone are illegal. In Canada, khat is a controlled substance, meaning it is illegal to seek or obtain unless approved by a medical practitioner. Possession of khat for personal use is not an arraignable offence in Canada.

In Europe, the use of khat is low and limited to countries with immigrant communities from countries where khat use is common, such as Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. However, the legality of khat within the European Union is inconsistent. For example, khat is illegal in many European countries, including Ireland, Italy, France, Germany, and most of Scandinavia, while it is accepted in the Netherlands and the UK, where it is considered a vegetable. In Norway, khat is classified as a narcotic drug and is illegal to use, sell, and possess. In Poland, khat is a classified narcotic drug and is illegal to use, sell, and possess. In Switzerland, khat is illegal and classified as a narcotic drug.

In summary, the legality of khat varies widely by region and country, with some nations enforcing strict regulations while others permit its use as a cultural practice.

Khat is a stimulant with amphetamine-like properties

Khat is a flowering shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The term refers to the leaves and young shoots of the Catha edulis plant, which are chewed for their stimulant and euphoric effects. The plant contains cathinone and cathine, chemicals that produce these stimulant effects. Cathinone, in particular, has been isolated as the substance in khat that produces effects in animals that are similar to those produced by amphetamines.

Cathinone acts by inducing the release of catecholamine at physiological storage sites, in a similar way to amphetamines. This results in increased alertness, excitement, energy, and talkativeness in humans. Animal testing has also shown that khat causes an increase in motoric activity. The effects of khat use are also similar to those resulting from the abuse of cocaine or methamphetamine, albeit less intense.

The oral administration of cathinone occurs more rapidly than amphetamine pills; it takes around 15 minutes for cathinone to take effect, compared to 30 minutes for amphetamines. The effects of khat usually last between 90 minutes and 3 hours, with the comedown lasting around 24 hours. Long-term use of khat can cause permanent tooth discolouration, susceptibility to ulcers, and a reduced sex drive.

Khat has been classified as a "drug of abuse" by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1980. The organisation states that khat can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence, although it is not considered a serious global problem. The legality of khat varies by region and country; in some territories, it may not be considered a controlled substance, but its recreational use may still be illegal under more general laws.

Khat is consumed by chewing its leaves

Khat is a flowering plant native to eastern and southeastern Africa. It is known by many names, including "Bushman's tea", "Abyssinian tea", and "miraa". The plant's leaves are sold on the market to be chewed as a recreational stimulant. The largest consumers of khat are Eastern Africans, particularly Somalis, and nearby Yemen. In these regions, khat chewing has been a social custom for thousands of years, primarily among men.

Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, a stimulant that causes increased sociability, excitement, mild loss of appetite, and mild euphoria. The leaves are typically chewed fresh, but they can also be dried and consumed as tea or made into a chewable paste. Chewing the leaves releases cathine and cathinone, which are absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth and the lining of the stomach. This slows the body's recycling of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine and norephedrine, resulting in wakefulness and insomnia.

The effects of khat include increased heart rate and blood pressure, elevated body temperature, increased alertness, excitement, energy, and talkativeness. These effects usually last between 90 minutes and 3 hours, with after-effects including lack of concentration, numbness, and insomnia. Khat abuse can lead to psychological dependence and chronic abuse can result in behavioural changes and mental health impairment. While the World Health Organization (WHO) does not consider khat addiction to be a serious global problem, it has classified khat as a "drug of abuse" since 1980.

In terms of legality, this varies by region and country. Khat is illegal in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Austria. In these countries, the consumption, distribution, and possession of khat for recreational use is prohibited. However, in some countries where its use is culturally significant, such as Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen, khat production, sale, and consumption are legal.

Frequently asked questions