Consequences of criminalization: the Dutch khat market before and after the ban

Aims: To evaluate the consequences of criminalising khat, with a focus on the changes in law enforcement and the use, availability, price and quality of khat in the Netherlands. Methods: Mixed methods, including law enforcement data, expert interviews, focus group interviews with members of the Somali community, and a survey among 168 current (last month) khat users. Findings: Soon after the law changed (early in 2013), and khat had become an illicit drug, much of the khat imported from Africa was confiscated at Schiphol International Airport and users found it more difficult to obtain fresh khat leaves. About two years after the ban had been implemented, the price of fresh khat at user lavel had increased tenfold on average, and much of it was of poorer quality (e.g. sold in dried or powdered form). Conclusion: Criminalisation of khat in the Netherlands had substantial consequences for the distribution chain (transcontinental import by air) and there was a lach of alternative transportation routes that could supply users with fresh khat. It is highly likely that the total number of Somali khat users in the Netherlands dropped, but that the proportion of dependent and poor, "problem users" increased

The effect of Nb2O5 and ZrO2 additions on the behaviour of Li/MgO and Li/Na/MgO catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane

Incorporation of Nb2O5 or ZrO2 into both Li/MgO and Li/Na/MgO systems produced ternary and quaternary catalysts, respectively, capable of attaining optimal C2 yields and selectivities at lower temperatures relative to the unpromoted materials. The degree of enhancement effected by these metal oxide additives was compared to that produced by Li/MgO and Li/Na/MgO catalysts promoted with SnO2 or Co3O4. At reaction temperatures < 700°C, the Li/Co/MgO ternary system showed marked differences in behaviour compared to the other ternary catalysts tested. This was particularly evident in the variation in C2 selectivity with time on stream during ageing studies of (i) untreated materials, (ii) materials pretreated in CO2, and (iii) materials dosed periodically with CHCI3