# IS "KHAT' and KAVA" Legal in USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426 "2006-08-27T17:49:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/1 "2006-08-27T17:49:21Z")
Khat is the leaves on an east african tree, that you chew and suck the juice out of. It produces a mild buzz, and is very popular in Somalia. Kava is the chewed roots of the pepper vne, mixed with water. I’m told it tastes like soapy dishwater-and it also gives a moderate high. Are these two drugs legal in the US? Where can you buy them? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/2 "2006-08-27T17:53:35Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Khat is the leaves on an east african tree, that you chew and suck the juice out of. It produces a mild buzz, and is very popular in Somalia. Kava is the chewed roots of the pepper vne, mixed with water. I’m told it tastes like soapy dishwater-and it also gives a moderate high. Are these two drugs legal in the US? Where can you buy them? 😕 [http://cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13941.shtml](http://cannabisnews.com/news/13/thread13941.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/3 "2006-08-27T17:54:42Z")
Kava is legal. When I had it it was ‘incorrectly made’. It was brewed in hot water as a tea, while it’s traditionally prepared in cold water. It had a bit of an earthy taste, which I liked. (My hosts put sugar in theirs.) I didn’t get high, but I found it a refreshing drink on a hot summer’s day. Other answers about kava: [Kava | Kava Kava | Kavalactone | Kava Capsules | Kava Root](http://www.konakavafarm.com/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/4 "2006-08-28T02:56:53Z")
There was a large Khat bust in Washington state a few weeks ago. So my guess is no, it isn’t legal here. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/5 "2006-08-28T03:16:23Z")
[Kava](http://shop.netgrocer.com/shop.aspx?&sid=9254428&sid_guid=e1e15af5-c062-4d0a-9ba7-803837dd90ff&strid=2D462&shopurl=productdetail.aspx&UPC=65272912944&ns=1) also used to be a not-very-popular instant coffee. I’m told it, too, tasted like soapy dishwater. It was, however, entirely legal. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/6 "2006-08-28T04:34:30Z")
> **[Khat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khat)** > > Khat or qat (Amharic: ጫት ch’at; Oromo: Jimaa, Somali: qaad, jaat, khaad or khat, Arabic: القات al-qāt, Swahili: miraa, jaba or aluta) is a flowering plant native to eastern and southern Africa. Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, a stimulant which causes greater sociability, excitement, loss of appetite, and mild euphoria. Among communities from the areas where the plant is native, khat-chewing has historical relevance (as a social custom, especially among men) dating back thousands of year... Here’s a link about Khat. But when you ask where you can get something, that’s when I shut it down. Closed. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-khat-and-kava-legal-in-usa/370426/7 "2006-08-28T04:41:20Z")
And now that I think about it, **ralph** , are you that fucking stupid? This isn’t your first day on the boards. You ask in one breath if something is legal and in the next you ask where to buy it. Could you at least wait for an answer to the first question? From **astro’s** link > [@](#): > > Khat has been illegal since 1993 in the United States. Sheesh!