What’s all natural, cheaper than coke, and the new kid on the block in Philly? Catha edulis, or khat, for you non-Latin-speaking, abbreviatin’ fools out there. Let’s skip the obvious LOLcats wisecrack here and instead apply our energies towards locating the latest drug on the streets. Then we’ll Cap’n Freeshit a select amount, and use the rest in place of gold for business dealings. Lest we start scheming ahead of ourselves, a Wikipedia lesson is in order. Turns out that this funky flower hails from Ethiopia and bears fruit containing seeds, which contain a stimulant that will excite you. Much like caffeinated drinkables. So what’s the difference between a shot of espresso and a hit of this? Both are addictive, considered “divine” substances, and make you god-like. Well, here’s the thing, Iggles fans, Khat makes your saliva GREEN.

Here are some things to think about before you rush to your local corner:

Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement. Individuals become very talkative under the influence of the drug and may appear to be unrealistic and emotionally unstable. Khat can induce manic behaviors and hyperactivity. Khat is an effective anorectic and its use also results in constipation. Dilated pupils (mydriasis), which are prominent during khat consumption, reflect the sympathomimetic effects of the drug, which are also reflected in increased heart rate and blood pressure. A state of drowsy hallucinations (hypnagogic hallucinations) may result coming down from khat use as well. Withdrawal symptoms that may follow prolonged khat use include lethargy, mild depression, nightmares, and slight tremor. Long term use can precipitate the following effects: negative impact on liver function, permanent tooth darkening (of a greenish tinge), susceptibility to ulcers, and diminished sex drive. Khat is usually not an addictive drug, although those who are addicted generally cannot stay without it for more than 4-5 days, feeling tired and having difficulty concentrating.^[17] However, a recent British study found khat to be less dangerous than tobacco and alcohol.

Never walk into a new habit unprepared, gang. I’m gonna go blow my blogcheck on a mocha, but let’s work on drug slang in the meantime. I’m pretty sure we could start referring to this as pussy.

Wikipedia: Look What The Khat Dragged In
CBS3: Oh Yeah? The Khat Won’t Be Out Of The Bag For Long

This entry was posted on Friday, September 28th, 2007 at 12:49 pm.