Kenya’s High Court has rejected a legal challenge by a Rastafarian advocacy group seeking to decriminalize cannabis for religious use.
The community contended that existing prohibitions on cannabis use conflicted with constitutional protections for freedom of religion and belief.
Ruling on the case, Justice Bahati Mwamuye determined that while the religious arguments were compelling, the legal framework for cannabis regulation did not currently accommodate medicinal or spiritual applications.
The court’s decision acknowledges growing public interest in reforming cannabis policies, including potential economic benefits from regulated cultivation and medical research opportunities.
Rastafarian adherents maintain that cannabis use is integral to their spiritual practices and must be legally protected as a matter of cultural identity.
“This issue requires national dialogue rather than being treated as an isolated cultural matter,” Justice Mwamuye emphasized.
He stressed that any policy changes should reflect broader societal needs and safety considerations.”


