On Thursday, Kenya High Court rejected a request by a Rastafarian group to legalise cannabis for religious use.
The activists argued that the ban on cannabis infringes on their right to freedom of religion under the constitution. However, the court ruled that the group did not provide evidence that drug laws violate constitutional rights.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye acknowledged that the issue of cannabis should be part of a broader national conversation. She urged that the debate touches everyone across society, not only Rastafarians.
In Kenya, supporters of cannabis legalisation argue that regulated cultivation and sale could create jobs, boost tax revenue and open up medicinal uses.
The Rastafarian community maintains that smoking cannabis is integral to their religious doctrine. Their legal challenge, therefore, rests on a blended view of faith and law.
