East African drug turns up in Maine

Portland (Maine) Press Herald ^ | 25 April 2002 | AP

[NewHampshireDuo]

LEWISTON — A drug called khat, a chewable amphetamine from a tree grown in East Africa, has begun to show up in the Lewiston area, and police are bracing for a wider emergence of the drug.

Chewing khat in paste form or drinking it like tea causes a user to feel energetic and blissful, an effect likened to that of cocaine, officials said.

Because khat is not listed on Maine statutes as a scheduled drug, it is technically not illegal in the state. But anyone caught trafficking in khat or using it will face federal charges, drug agents said.

Police and drug agents in Maine have become more familiar with khat after shipments to New England were intercepted.

Khat is believed to be coming to the United States along with thousands of immigrants from Somalia.

"We're not targeting or criticizing any segment of our population," said Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Supervisor Gerry Baril. "But the influx of immigrants from the East African region seems to be directly correlated to the availability of the drug."

In Lewiston, where more than 750 Somali immigrants have come to live in the past year, police are getting educated.

"We are aware of the drug and what it does," said Lewiston police Sgt. Michael McGonagle. "We have not seen a problem with it, but we've been made aware."

Baril said the MDEA has already investigated cases of khat use or distribution, but he could not be more specific.

Khat is usually packaged in plastic bags or wrapped in banana leaves when it is prepared for shipment. It may be sold as dried or crushed leaves or in powdered form, according to a University of Pennsylvania study of the drug.

There was no information available on how much the drug might sell for in Maine. But according to national statistics, a bundle of khat leaves might be sold for between $30 and $50, while a kilogram will fetch between $300 and $400 in cities such as Boston or New York.

[general_re]

The funny thing is, I bet it tastes like sh*t.

[LadyDoc]

Khat isn't exactly a taste treat, but it doesn't turn one into a raving loon with a Koran in one hand and a Kalishnakov in the other.

Nor do cocaine leaves chewed in Bolivia as a mild stimulent to counteract altitude sickness and hunger on long trips.

The dosage is the thing. Italians drink wine and have a low incidence of alcoholism. Irish drink to get drunk and have a high incidence of alcoholism.

In this country, drug use is associated with the idea of getting high.

If marijuana and heroin were used only for people in pain, there would be no drug problem.

But Khat was used by the warlords in Somalia to make their teenaged follwers high, so they could terrorize the population with AK 47's, and so they didn't feel guilty stealing food from starving people.

Much of the arguments about drug use ignores it's not drug use but abuse that is the problem. And that this confusion is caused by the liberal sixties generation who think if you feel good, do it.

[vin-one]

Much of the arguments about drug use ignores it's not drug use but abuse that is the problem. And that this confusion is caused by the liberal sixties generation who think if you feel good, do it.

So by your reasoning as long as we don't abuse the drug we are ok.
So if we abuse booze it should be prohibited again.
not sure of where you are going with this. This drug sounds more like coffee than anything else.
But since people are using and not abusing it should be legal
By your reasoning sex should be outlawed because it feels good as well.

[Republicus2001]

After enjoying a tasty glass of sassparilla (sp?) at an old-fashioned type soda fountain in old town San Jose, Calif., I inquired on a listserv where one could find a recipe for the sody pop - only to learn that the main ingredient - sassafrass is on the U.S. list of controlled substances

[45Auto]

Yes, because the pure substance which gives sassafrass its distinctive odor and flavor is a chemical known as safrole - a methylenedioxy phenyl propene which can be converted to MDMA - ecstacy.

[LadyDoc]

By your reasoning sex should be outlawed because it feels good as well.

One of the legacies of the sixties liberals is that it diminishes sex to fun and pleasure.

But in traditional societies, sex for pleasure alone was outlawed in various ways, because it was destructive of family ties and led to disease and children who could not be cared for.

Sex has many varied reasons, mixed together. The pleasure of a man and a woman is not an animal act with no consequences. It is a pleasure that mirrors Heaven, and that binds a man and a woman in the act of making love. From that love springs service and children, for love always leads to generosity and giving.

Read JPII's writings on the importance of the body--or even Andrew Greeley's X rated books, which popularize these ideas.

[Born in a Rage]

1,000 Somalians Moving to Maine ---- City council statement, Lewiston, ME ---- it's getting crazy....