http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Khat, or qat, for those not familiar with it. It's considered a Schedule I drug based on cathinone, yet according to a study done in The Lancet, it is less addictive and physically harmful than cannabis! Erowid's (
http://www.erowid.org/plants/khat/) experiences compare it to COFFEE! IMO this is similar case to how marijuana was vilified at the turn of the last century, as "something those dirty Mexicans do". Marijuana is still illegal in part because the propaganda was used to promote racism. Seems like khat is being treated the same way.
Crossposted to GD.