Key facts
- Kenya's High Court has dismissed a Rastafarian group's request to legalise cannabis for religious use.
- The court ruled that current drug laws do not violate the Rastafarian community's constitutional rights.
- Justice Bahati Mwamuye acknowledged the need for a national debate on cannabis legalisation.
- Advocates argue legalising cannabis could create jobs, boost tax revenue, and support industrial/medicinal uses.
Kenya's High Court has dismissed a legal challenge brought by a Rastafarian group seeking to legalise the use of cannabis for religious purposes. The community had argued that the prohibition on smoking cannabis infringed upon their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and belief.
In the ruling, Justice Bahati Mwamuye stated that the Rastafarian community had not sufficiently proven that drug laws violated their constitutional rights. However, the judge also highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive national dialogue regarding the legalisation of cannabis.
Supporters of cannabis legalisation in Kenya contend that its regulated cultivation and trade could generate employment, increase tax revenues, and benefit industrial and medicinal sectors. The Rastafarian faith considers smoking cannabis an integral part of its religious doctrine, which they believe should be respected.