Khat to be made Class C drug

A stimulant used by several East African communities is to be made illegal, the Home Secretary has announced.

The Government will fast-track legislative changes to make khat a Class C drug, meaning anyone caught trafficking or supplying the substance will face up to 14 years in prison and an unlimited fine.

Ignoring advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), which recommended in a report in January that prohibiting khat would be “inappropriate and disproportionate”, Theresa May claimed the move would limit its “serious impact on UK society”.

“I have carefully considered the ACMD’s advice before reaching this decision and looked at wider concerns from communities about khat use and our international responsibilities,” she said.

“Failure to take decisive action and change our legislative position on khat would place the UK at serious risk of becoming a single, regional hub for trafficking.

“Banning khat will help protect vulnerable members of our communities and send a clear message to an international audience that the UK is a hostile place for traffickers.”

Andy Bliss, national policing lead on drugs, said the policing response to the decision will be “proportionate”.

“Chief officers will play a key role in communicating this change in the law and setting appropriate enforcement policies in those local communities where khat use is prevalent,” he said.

“There may be a case for police action to follow similar lines to the approach used for cannabis possession offences, where 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.

“We will explore this possibility with the Home Office and with the College of Policing over forthcoming weeks.”