Council calls for regulation of khat

A London borough has called the sale of khat to be regulated in a similar way to tobacco.

The mildly narcotic leaf is legal and is popular as a chewed stimulant, mainly in Somalian, Yemeni and some African communities in the UK.

An internal review by the London Borough of Hillingdon recommended regulation because the leaf has a similar, but less powerful, effect to amphetamines.

Its low cost means the quantities consumed often go beyond those considered harmless, which the council said could contribute to mental health issues and aggressive, anti-social behaviour.
Council leader Ray Puddifoot, said: “It is clear from the report that this is not just a Somalian, Hillingdon or even London issue but a UK-wide concern. I hope the review's findings will help inform the debate on khat at a national level.”

According to Hillingdon’s investigation, more than seven tonnes of khat are imported daily, mainly from Kenya, and sold at an average price of £5 a bundle, giving a UK market worth some £468m a year.
The report said that regulating khat, rather than banning it, would give local authorities, the police and government agencies greater powers to control it without creating an underground market.

It recommended that sales should be age restricted, consignments checked on import for pesticide levels and that sellers should be subject to food hygiene safety regulations.
Hillingdon's cabinet member for improvement, partnerships and community safety, Douglas Mills, said: “This detailed report highlights the need to do more to tackle the public health and anti-social behaviour issues that can arise from the over-consumption of khat.

"We know this drug is increasingly attracting younger people and those from communities that haven't traditionally used khat so it's imperative that we regulate its use sooner rather than later.”