On Wednesday, a Kenyan court rejected a bid by the Rastafarian community to gain legal approval for smoking marijuana for religious purposes. Members of the faith, who utilize cannabis during meditation, had sought a High Court ruling to confirm their right to use the substance under constitutional religious freedom protections.
The presiding judge dismissed the petition, stating that the community did not provide sufficient evidence that existing drug legislation violates their religious rights. Despite the ruling, the judge acknowledged that the current 1994 law, which imposes up to ten years in prison for possession, might be overly punitive given the prevalence of recreational cannabis use throughout Kenya. He suggested the government initiate open discussions regarding potential reforms to national drug policies.
Rastafarians have long argued that police utilize these strict laws to target and harass them. The group maintains a significant cultural presence in Kenya, historically linked to the Mau Mau independence fighters who wore dreadlocks. In 2019, the country took a step toward recognizing the community’s rights when a court determined that banning students with dreadlocks from school was unconstitutional. While official statistics are unavailable, interest in Rastafarian principles such as Pan-Africanism and vegetarianism appears to be rising among the nation’s youth.
