Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne said that the Bill would outlaw ‘khat’, a substance commonly used as a stimulant by Africans.

One was not legislating against African traditions but against the use of such dangerous substances, he said.

Dr Fearne said that this substance was already illegal in Germany, France, Ireland, Finland and the Netherlands.

The United Kingdom enacted legislation prohibiting the use of khat on June 24.

Victims are likely to harm families

Therefore, one had to avoid a situation where the use of the substance was illegal in EU member states but legal in others.

Noting that 64 kilograms of khat were found in Iceland, Dr Fearne said that one had to eliminate the possibility of khat entering Malta. It was a substance that could cause withdrawal symptoms.

It could also cause mouth cancer, impotence and reduce one’s sexual drive, as well as causing psychological effects such as depression.

Victims of khat could commit suicide and harm their families, he added.

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