Khat an illegal substance, Appeals Court reaffirms (MN)

StarTribune.com ^ | November 23, 2010 | ROCHELLE OLSON

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Possessing the plant khat is illegal under Minnesota law, and prosecuting violators does not infringe on their religious freedom, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

The euphoria-producing plant is popular in East African nations and among that region's immigrants in the Twin Cities. Some of their advocates say prosecuting them for possessing it unfairly brands them as criminals and makes them more susceptible to recruitment by terrorists.

The ruling marks the third time that Minnesota's appellate courts have found khat (pronounced "cot") to be illegal, although it is unlikely to be the last word. The latest case started in February 2009, when police with a warrant searched the home of Yusof Mohamed Adam and Ahmed Ali Ahmed and, according to court records, found the pair at a table packaging what proved to be 3.5 pounds of khat.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

There will be no joy in 'Little Mogadishu' tonight.

[FlingWingFlyer]

I imagine we’ll get some “docs” out there who will tell us about the wonders of “medical” khat and then we’ll all vote on it. LOL!

[nickcarraway]

Shouldn’t the legislature be deciding whether it’s legal or not?

[garyhope]

I wonder if they know the guy arrested with crack in his crack. I wonder if he also had some khat in his crack along with his crack.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

I’m sure that Keith (Hakeem) (PBUH) Ellison will be weighing in shortly.....

[Minn]

There will be no joy in 'Little Mogadishu' tonight.

I enjoy winking at the burka clad women when I'm down there. They usually smile sheepishly. You can tell that many of them feel trapped by the idiocy that controls their lives; as they surely do world wide.

[RightGeek]

The euphoria-producing plant is popular in East African nations and among that region's immigrants in the Twin Cities. Some of their advocates say prosecuting them for possessing it unfairly brands them as criminals and makes them more susceptible to recruitment by terrorists.

A one way ticket home would solve that. Plus then they could get all the khat they want.

[astyanax]

"Some of their advocates say prosecuting them for possessing it unfairly brands them as criminals and makes them more susceptible to recruitment by terrorists."
Just when you think the StarTrib can't get any more ridiculous, they up their game.

[ansel12]

Libertarians lose another one.

[FredZarguna]

Zarguna Rules 'Khat' Must be Properly Spelled: 'Qat.' Refuses to Take Beating on Final 'U'-less Scrabble^TM Turn.

Crossword puzzle writers' union concurs.

[steel_resolve]

and makes them more susceptible to recruitment by terrorists.

this Somali trash may have all the rights under the US constitution I have, but they are not my countrymen. Threatening our country with terrorism unless we bend over backwards and allow your filthy and illegal habits? Gtfo

[JohnBovenmyer]

Khat has a very short shelf life (I think 4-5 days, maybe less) and has to be imported from E. Africa or Yemen IIRC. Although probably most popular in Somalia I don’t think it actually grows there; they import it, mainly from Kenya. So how are the MN Somali’s getting this illegal bulky substance that far, that quickly and what else is/could be smuggled in the same way? And why aren’t we hearing about the DEA being all over such smuggling?

[HiTech RedNeck]

khitty khitty khitty...

[I Buried My Guns]

I wonder if it will grow in Houston.

I say that academically, of course.