Leaders of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya Coast branch have strongly opposed the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Amendment Bill, 2024 that is before the Senate.
PSK Coast branch chairperson Murtaza Mohamed said the Bill aims to exempt cathinone and cathine substances in miraa crops from being classified as psychotropic substances.
He warned that the substances pose health risks to the human body.
Mohamed said the amendment aims to boost the economic fortunes of the miraa industry, which is a significant source of livelihood for many Kenyans.
“The Bill argues that the classification of these substances as psychotropic by the National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse negatively impacts the market for miraa despite governmental efforts to boost the sector,” he said.
“However, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya strongly oppose this amendment because it contradicts both the Kenyan constitution and international conventions to which Kenya is a party.”
Miraa crop is an internationally recognised as a psychotropic substance that can negatively affect the mental health of a person.
Mohamed said removing these substances from the list of controlled substances could lead to an increased abuse and health-related issues, which might force the government to spend more on public health services.
“We would like to caution that deregulating cathinone and cathine might lead to an influx of both natural and synthetic derivatives, complicating enforcement and public health efforts."
Mohammed said that while the proposed law seeks to boost the miraa industry by deregulating its psychoactive components, it faces significant opposition due to health concerns and potential conflicts with international law.
The international market access for miraa, he added, would require addressing the issue at the UN level, rather than through unilateral legislative changes.
According to Yakub Ahmed, a pharmacist, an amendment of the two substances is a decision which cannot be made by the Senate.
“There are international laws which were passed in the UN on psychotropic [substances] and Kenya is among the countries that signed up,” Ahmed said.
“What we are telling them is that, if we remove the substances which are found in miraa and mugukaa, there is the possibility of bringing drugs in our country using other ways which we call synthetic cathinone.
"These are made in laboratories and can affect mental health. Therefore we do not support the Bill and we are saying that it cannot happen.”
He said PSK will go to court if the proposed law sails through.
Kenya is signatory to the 1971 UN Control of Narcotics and Psychotropic, which it pledged to abide by in 2000.
“If that happens, we might end up having a zombie state forcing the government to start investing and building rehab centres across the country to treat people who will be affected mentally,” he said.
He warned that young people will also be affected and they might not be protected from its effects.