/oss/taxonomy/term/6144/all en /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-you-asked/what-khat-and-why-are-we-warned-about-it <p>Cathinone’s molecular structure resembles amphetamine which accounts for its mild stimulant effect. Historically, cathinone has not cause much concern, at least not until clandestine chemists began to tinker with its molecular structure, trying to increase its stimulant effect. Attaching a methyl group (consisting of a single carbon atom and three hydrogens) to cathinone turned out to be a simple laboratory procedure. The resulting “methcathinone” was far more potent as a stimulant and found a ready market.</p> Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:18:19 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9054 at /oss