THE LOCAL DRUG PROBLEM - MIRRA (AKA KHAT)

This is a picture of a man in Maua, Kenya who was harrassing Scott as we walked home to the hotel. He was barefoot and filthy and (according to Steven Mubichi) a little crazy. He was also carrying a packet of mirra in his left hand (also known as Khat) and seemed pretty spaced out. He berated us in Swahili the whole time.

Khat ( Catha Edulis) is an evergreen shrub/tree and grows to about four metres high. The best Khat is grown in the mountain areas of Kenya and Ethiopia. The main active ingredient in the plant includes Cathinone which acts as a stimulant, to the central nervous system in a way similar to amphetamine.

Khat is traditional to North East African countries such as Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, and has a long history of use in these regions. It's social acceptance is such that it can be compared to the use of tea and coffee in Western society. It is also known as 'mirra'.

Source. http://www.ndp.govt.nz/media/2000/customs22mar2000.html

Also see http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/khat1.htm and http://www.geocities.com/forceps1974/khat.html
for discussion of Khat (aka “mirra”).