Milton Keynes Today
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
MP Mark Lancaster has been honoured for his fight to ban the drug Khat.
The member for Milton Keynes North was praised for his efforts by Milton Keynes Somali Association last week.
Khat
is a shrub which contains cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant,
which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite and euphoria.
It is widely used by people from the Horn of Africa including Somalia.
Mr
Lancaster has spoken numerous times over the past three years in the
House of Common asking for the drug to be banned in the UK.
In
Milton Keynes, the drug is known to have caused many problems including
social and family breakdown and damaged the health of users.
Mr Lancaster was honoured at the MK Somali Association’s inaugral meeting last Thursday night.
Speaking
afterwards, he said: “I didn’t expect to receive an award for just
doing my job. I continue to be committed to fighting for a ban on khat
on behalf of my constituents and the Somali Community.”
Abukar
Awaleh, Head of Somali Diaspora UK, added: “I am very impressed with
the fantastic work Mark Lancaster is doing for minority communities and
we are ever so grateful to him for being the voice to a voiceless
community and problem.”