Mild stimulant used to be Maua’s most valuable export, bringing prosperity to all involved. A year since it was outlawed, the local economy has been devastated

In a quiet and unassuming town tucked away in a hilly part of eastern Kenya, the British home secretary Theresa May’s name is spoken with barely concealed anger. Since her role in the ban of the town’s most valuable export, she’s become a universally vilified figure.

For more than two decades, Maua enjoyed booming business propelled by the growth and sale of khat, known locally as miraa, a popular herb whose leaves and stems are chewed for the mild high they offer.

Marijuana is commonly referred to as bhang, bangi, pot, ganja, vela or weed among other names depending on the unique strain. In the scientific domain it is known as Cannabis Sativa containing the compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that causes the “high” effect.

Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act of 1994, classifies the possession, sale, growing and distribution of marijuana illegal. This law is almost theoretical since it is rarely adhered to by patrons and by extension law enforcement officers who meet to the ready market of supply and demand.