In brief
Kenya’s High Court dismissed a petition by a Rastafarian group challenging the ban on cannabis, claiming it violated their constitutional right to religious freedom. Justice Bahati Mwamuye said the community could not prove that drug laws infringed on these rights, but urged a broader national debate on cannabis. The ruling highlights debates over potential economic benefits from regulated cultivation while acknowledging Rastafarians’ religious practices.
Kenya’s High Court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Rastafarian group seeking to legalise the use of cannabis for religious purposes.
The Rastafarian community argued that the ban on smoking cannabis infringed on their right to freedom of religion and belief guaranteed under the constitution.
In a landmark judgement, Justice Bahati Mwamuye said the community had failed to prove that drug laws violated their constitutional rights, but acknowledged the need for a broader national debate on cannabis.
Advocates have continued to push for cannabis legalisation in Kenya, claiming regulated cultivation and trade could create jobs, boost tax revenue and support medicinal and industrial uses.
Rastafarians maintain that smoking cannabis is part of their religious doctrine and must be respected and upheld.
"We ought to have frank conversations on cannabis and which directions we should take," Justice Mwamuye said.
"This is not a question for the Rastafarian community only. It is a national question that cuts across the entire spectrum of our society," he added.
