One man’s vice is another’s virtue

People who travel to Yemen are often appalled to see the widespread use of the amphetamine-like stimulant called khat, which is legal there. By mid-afternoon each day, the cheeks of many men and even some women are bulging from the green leaves that they chew to “relax.” While it may be tempting to find fault with the Yeminis for condoning drug use, who are we to say it is any worse than drinking a couple of glasses of wine or a martini every night? In fact, while it is legal to use khat in Yemen, alcoholic beverages are banned there.