Kenyan court rejects Rastafarian bid to legalise cannabis for religious use

Kenya's High Court has dismissed a bid by a Rastafarian group seeking to legalise the use of cannabis for religious purposes. The community argued that the ban on smoking cannabis violated their constitutional right to freedom of religion. In his ruling, Justice Bahati Mwamuye stated that the group failed to prove that drug laws infringed on their rights, but acknowledged the need for a broader national debate on cannabis.

There has been a continued push to legalise cannabis in Kenya, with advocates highlighting potential benefits such as job creation, increased tax revenue, and industrial and medicinal uses. Rastafarians contend that cannabis use is central to their religious doctrine and should be respected.

"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."