Kenyan court dismisses Rastafarians' bid to legalise cannabis
Kenya's High Court has dismissed a petition by a Rastafarian group to legalize cannabis for religious use. The judge ruled that the group failed to prove the ban violated their constitutional rights but suggested a broader national conversation on the topic.
Why it matters
The ruling highlights the ongoing tension between religious freedom claims and national drug control laws in Kenya.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images Image caption, 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.
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