News report on khat ban

[PrinceDaadi]

^ And when they get out of prison, they have a record and will probably be forced into seeking employment in the informal economy, which offers jobs that pay less than formal occupations. Not to mention the economic burden these individuals families will endure while they're locked up, as well as the stigma attached to being a relative of a prisoner.

There's a lot of social consequences that arise from the prohibition of drugs, including qaad.

what are we basing our arguments when we r looking at pros and cons of whether to ban khat or not? as far as i know Islam basis its argument on whether the negative outweighs the positive then it should be banned.

gaalos banned all those drugs that effect their natives but left the one that kills the maryooley.


FG. i agree with Abdi.Ismail that we should tax it dearly in Somalia inorder to discourage its consumption.

[Jaidi]

^ And when they get out of prison, they have a record and will probably be forced into seeking employment in the informal economy, which offers jobs that pay less than formal occupations. Not to mention the economic burden these individuals families will endure while they're locked up, as well as the stigma attached to being a relative of a prisoner.

There's a lot of social consequences that arise from the prohibition of drugs, including qaad.

what are we basing our arguments when we r looking at pros and cons of whether to ban khat or not? as far as i know Islam basis its argument on whether the negative outweighs the positive then it should be banned.

gaalos banned all those drugs that effect their natives but left the one that kills the maryooley.


FG. i agree with Abdi.Ismail that we should tax it dearly in Somalia inorder to discourage its consumption.

Qaat is banned everywhere in the West outside of the UK, as far as I know and in all of those countries Somalis complain they are being discriminated against for using a harmless substance. Just the other month I read an article in a Toronto newspaper where Somalis were trying to get it legalized in Canada and said it was the equivalent to coffee/beer. Cant have it both ways

[PrinceDaadi]

horta do we agree that Khaat is drug?

[Lillaahiya]

Jaidi: That's because of bag of dried up garaabo costs up to $40-$50, whereas in the U.K., you get a fresh bunch of qaad for 3 quid. Why spend half a bill of something that hardly gets you high?

PrinceDaadi: Drug laws, at least here in Canada, have nothing to do with negative social effects. Alcohol, which kills more people than all drugs combined, is legal, while cannabis, which hasn't been directly linked to a single death in this country, remains illegal. The reason why certain drugs are illegal has more to do with historically suppressing/regulating marginalized communities.

[Jaidi]

^ Good point. So its probably a consequence of North America's distance more than anything.

[Alphanumeric]

Legalize it. Read about a new cannabis bust in the UK a few times a week. Silliness.

Jaidi: That's because of bag of dried up garaabo costs up to $40-$50, whereas in the U.K., you get a fresh bunch of qaad for 3 quid. Why spend half a bill of something that hardly gets you high?

PrinceDaadi: Drug laws, at least here in Canada, have nothing to do with negative social effects. Alcohol, which kills more people than all drugs combined, is legal, while cannabis, which hasn't been directly linked to a single death in this country, remains illegal. The reason why certain drugs are illegal has more to do with historically suppressing/regulating marginalized communities.

Canadian drug laws are mostly reactionary and protectionist. Parties are bound by the opinions of their constituents. Those who vote have been anti-drug for a while. Canadian drug policies are based on conservative morals. We've had alcohol prohibitiion, which of course failed and resulted in provincially regulated dispenseries (LCBO). I don't believe there's any direct attempt to suppress or regulate marginalized communities in Canada. At least not through drug policies. Unfortunately politicians don't seem to understand the effect laws have on the ground. They will ride the fence on issues that matter in order to save face with their voters. Particularly the Liberals. The Liberal party is now outrightly for the legalization and regulation of cannabis, and of course the NDP have been anti-drug war for decades. IMO, Libs are parasitic scumbags who'll say whatever it takes to win votes.

Anyway, Canadians are subject to assumed effects our policies will have at the border. But times are changing.

[Lillaahiya]

I don't believe there's any direct attempt to suppress or regulate marginalized communities in Canada. At least not through drug policies.

Opium was criminalized to regulate the Chinese in Canada. Even today, most of those who are charged for trafficking/possession are marginalized people.

[Alphanumeric]

I don't believe there's any direct attempt to suppress or regulate marginalized communities in Canada. At least not through drug policies.

Opium was criminalized to regulate the Chinese in Canada. Even today, most of those who are charged for trafficking/possession are marginalized people.

Yes, I agree that opium laws were used to curb immigration. It was a dilberate and racist attempt by the government to limit the number of Chinese labourers entering the country, coupled with the head tax. I'll give you that (Emily Murphy and McClean's). And yes, "marginalized people" are more likely to be charged for drug crimes. My only question is whether or not that is a esult of malicious intent on behalf of the government, or of enforcing conservative drug laws; is it a result of probability, given the amount of policing in metropolitan areas. Yes, today the likelihood of an individual who may not be described as "marginalized" has a lesser chance of being sentenced for a drug crime, but I feel this reflects more on the those granted authority in the legal system rather than the laws themselves. There are many questions to ask of the individuals being sentenced, however.

I believe our drug laws are centered on economic agreements and conservative morals. It's a result of their application that marginalized people are most at risk of convictions. Of course, I could always be wrong.

[Lillaahiya]

^ It's a bit of both, imo. Wouldn't it be malicious for a government to continue enforcing faulty drug laws because it would political suicide not to?

[Alphanumeric]

I think that could be argued. Though their reasons for not ending the drug war are mainly economical with some moral questions; law enforcement, prison contracts, Public Defenders, the cost of regulation, and the social impacts of legalizing psychoactive drugs for recreational use.

[Lillaahiya]

[Abdihaliim]

Never laughed so much, Somalis are all characters. From the flamboyant somali professor to the khat chewing guy at 1.50 lol

Qaadka si fiican, isaga dhaqa? koley ma deyneysaan, daaqidiisee, biyo karkaraaya ku shuba! Aaway Basra Kenyaatiga soo guraaya, ma heystaan kaarka caafimaadka

[Enlightened~Sista]

Canadian and Americans please refrain from making alarmist statements and kindly don't comment here as this doesn't concern nor affect you guys in anyway. Qat is banned in many countries Somalis live in, like the Arabian Gulf countries and none of them have upgraded to something stronger. The men in those countries all have jobs, and when they want to socialise ..congregate in maqaahis and sip tea/coffee, smoke ciggies or shiisha. The 'single mother, absent father, broken families ' phenomenon is non existent over there. So kindly zip it.

[Alphanumeric]

I'll comment where and how I like. There's a UK section if you wish to use it.

[Tuushi]

Canadian and Americans please refrain from making alarmist statements and kindly don't comment here as this doesn't concern nor affect you guys in anyway. Qat is banned in many countries Somalis live in, like the Arabian Gulf countries and none of them have upgraded to something stronger. The men in those countries all have jobs, and when they want to socialise ..congregate in maqaahis and sip tea/coffee, smoke ciggies or shiisha. The 'single mother, absent father, broken families ' phenomenon is non existent over there. So kindly zip it.