Rastafarians in Kenya are waiting with baited breath for a high court ruling later this month which will determine whether they can smoke cannabis legally.
Its use is central to their religion, and is often smoked in communal rituals to enhance meditation, promote inner peace, and bring them closer to “Jah” or God.
The landmark ruling on the lawsuit filed by the Rastafari Society of Kenya in 2021 to decriminalise the use of cannabis for “spiritual” purposes is due to be pronounced on 15 July.
"Rastafari is our culture and smoking weed or marijuana is a part of our culture. So we have to defend it in the law of court, the court of law,” said Mwendwa Wambua, aka Ras Prophet and spokesperson for the society.
While the movement is recognised in Kenya, a 1994 law makes possession of weed punishable by 10 years' imprisonment and a substantial fine.
