Khat

What is Khat?

Scientifically known as Catha edulis, khat is a flowering plant native to parts of eastern and southern Africa, containing the psychoactive stimulants cathinone and cathine.

Khat’s buds and leaves can be chewed, dried and smoked, or made into tea. Its effects commonly include increased alertness, excitement, and concentration. After roughly two hours, users may experience a comedown effect of “low mood and sluggishness”.

Khat is commonly used as an energy enhancer by the peoples of northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Is Khat Legal in Canada?

For the most part, no. Simple possession of khat for personal use is not prohibited, but production, trafficking, import and export are illegal unless authorized by regulation or s. 56 exemption.

Khat, under its scientific name Catha edulis, is a controlled substance under Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). Per s. 4(1) of the CDSA, personal possession is not prohibited, but “production, trafficking, possession for the purposes of trafficking, importation and exportation and possession for the purposes of exportation” are.

While it is illegal to import khat, charges against persons accused of the offence may be dismissed where circumstances meet the conditions outlined in s. 730(1) of the Criminal Code, which allows courts to grant an absolute discharge “if it is in the best interests of the accused and not contrary to the public interest.”

In R. c. Ali (QCCQ, 2014) and R. v. Soufi and Mohamed (ONCJ, 2016), courts dismissed charges against defendants accused of illegal importation, finding in each case that the circumstances of the offence and relative harmlessness of the substance did not warrant criminal punishment.  

Medical or Therapeutic Use?

There are no generally accepted medical uses for khat in Canada. However, Yemeni users reportedly believe khat can be helpful in treating arthritis, depression, headaches, body pains, colds, and fevers.

Chronic abuse of khat has been correlated with increased risk of depression, oral cancer, insomnia, and anorexia.