Over the past year we have been reading articles like this & this, which result massive arrests due to Khat smuggling. And the sensation that Ethiopian worldwide are in smuggling operations are seeing the consequences.

Both World Health Organization and the US Department of Justice classify it as addictive drug and recommend that all countries deem it illegal. Scientists that have tested the chemicals present in the so called “drug” and imply that Cathinone, which is the one of the two controlled substances, is not active in DRY Khat leaves.  The other controlled substance called Cathine is the only controlled substance that is present in DRY Khat.

The important word here is "dry"

Controlled Substances Act (CSA), when it was enacted, had five classifications called schedules. Cathinone is Schedule I meaning of the highest potency as a drug. And Cathine is a schedule IV meaning the potency of the chemical as a controlled substance is not much. Schedule IV:

(A) The drug or other substance has a low potential for abuse relative to the drugs or other substances in

schedule III.
(B) The drug or other substance has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) Abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to the drugs or other substances in schedule III.

Notice B, some of the drug classified as Schedule IV are sold on over the counter medications in most other countries, and easily perscribed in the US.

…the special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New York office, called it "highly addictive and devastating" to the people who use it.

"It is suspected that there are ties to some type of terrorist organizations,"…

…intelligence suggests the money was headed for "countries in East Africa which are a hotbed for Sunni extremism and a wellspring for terrorists associated with Al-Qaida." Continue reading ‘Chew On This!’