Kenyan court dismisses Rastafarians' bid to legalise cannabis
Kenya's High Court has rejected a petition by the Rastafarian Society of Kenya to legalize cannabis for religious use. The judge ruled that the group failed to prove that current drug laws violate their constitutional rights to freedom of religion.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights the ongoing legal tension between constitutional religious protections and national drug control policies in Kenya.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Wycliffe Muia and Akisa Wandera , Nairobi AFP via Getty Images The Rastafarian community says the ban on smoking cannabis infringes on their rights to religious freedom Kenya's High Court has dismissed a bid by a Rastafarian group seeking to legalise the use of cannabis for religious purposes.
The Rastafarian community had argued that the ban on smoking cannabis infringed on their rights to freedom of religion and belief guaranteed under the constitution.
In a landmark judgement, Justice Bahati Mwamuye said the community had failed to prove drug laws violated their constitutional 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 arguing that its regulated cultivation and trade could create jobs, boost tax revenue and support industrial and medicinal uses.
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