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Khat and the Informal Globalization of a Psychoactive Commodity

Klein, Axel (2011) Khat and the Informal Globalization of a Psychoactive Commodity. In: Costa Storti, Claudia and de Grauwe, Paul, eds. Illicit Trade and the Global Economy. CESifo Seminar Series . MIT Press, pp. 179-202. ISBN 978-0-262-01655-1. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:28960)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
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http://www.cesifo-group.de/portal/page/portal/CFP_...

Abstract

Over the past decade khat has become a globally available commodity, popular among

Eastern African diaspora communities in Europe and North America. At the same time

production and consumption are spreading into countries across Africa where it was

hitherto unknown. There have been profound implications for rural producers who have

benefited from the cash crop, public health and social control. Khat, is the only ‘new’

psychoactive drug that is globally traded and not controlled by international conventions.

National bans have engendered trading networks that move from the licit to the criminal.

The long term status of khat as either a vegetable (UK) or a class 1 narcotic (US) has

serious implications for farming families and national economies in Eastern Africa, but

also offers the opportunity for the emergence of a global trading commodity controlled

entirely by African interests.

Item Type: Book section
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV5800 Drug habits and abuse
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Tony Rees
Date Deposited: 24 Feb 2012 09:16 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:07 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/28960 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Klein, Axel.

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