Survey supports ban on drug khat

Bunches of khat can be bought for around £3

Many people would support moves to ban the drug khat, according to a government survey.

Almost half of 600 interviewees from the Somali community - where khat use is most prominent - supported it being made illegal.

Chewing the leaves can have a stimulant effect and the plant is outlawed in the US, Canada, Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

Of the people in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield who gave a view, 49% said it should be banned.

Even a quarter of recent users of the drug, amounting to 49 individuals, said it should be made illegal.

In all, 295 were for prohibition, 210 were against and 48 were indifferent.

While the plant itself is legal to possess and sell in Britain, its active ingredients, cathine and cathinone, are Class C controlled substances.

Mood swings

The Home Office report said: "Those who wanted to see it banned generally thought that Somali people would achieve more in British society, working and studying harder than they currently did with khat to distract them.

"Other reasons were to protect young people specifically from khat use, to prevent harm to both khat users and their families and to encourage Somali people to save money."

Khat, which can also be known or spelled as qat, jaad, qaat or chat, has previously been linked with paranoia, mood swings and sleeping problems.

It is bought in 200 gram to 250 gram (7oz to 8.8oz) bundles for as little as £3.