The old Rastafari and historical defender of the movement, Ras Iyah V, He called the Jamaica government to take urgent measures to guarantee that the police and courts fully respect the legal rights of the Rastafaris To use ganja for sacramental purposes.
This application arises after a recent ruling from the Westmoreland parish court that acquitted Ras Jermaine Jackson, A slaughter with a sacramental license, accused of marijuana possession and traffic.
“The law is clear. We do not want more empty dialogues with ministers or commissioners. What we want is for legislation to be respected”, Ras Iyah V was held about the aforementioned case.
The representative Rastafari recalled that The amendment a The Dangerous Drug Law of the Year 2015 expressly recognizes the right of the Rastafari community to cultivate and consume ganja for sacramental purposes, no need for previous police authorization.
Specific, The article 10 allows to cultivate up to five cannabis plants for personal consumption, but Rastafaris have broader rights under sacramental exemption.
Detention, Liberation and refund of grass
On the particular case of Ras Jermaine Jackson, This was arrested after a raid at his home in Negril 27 May and they were seized 32 kilos of ganja, However, justice recognized its religious rights and ordered not only its liberation, but also the return of the grass.
Despite the favorable failure, Ras Iyah V assured that the fact puts the unfair treatment towards the Rastafaris again evidenced, who are still white of persecution despite the legal modifications of 2015.
One of the main focus of the leader Rastafari is the situation of sisters and brothers who do not have official documentation, But that they practice their faith in a genuine way.
“What about the authentic dreadlocks that have no papers? They also have no right to their sacrament?”, Ras Iyah V wondered, holding that Rastafari spirituality cannot depend on a stamp or administrative permit.
Jackson's case is just one among many, because according to Iyah V, There are multiple background where people with the same positions receive different convictions and while in court they dismiss, In others, fines are imposed.
“That is unfair. There cannot be discretion when there is a law that protects our rights”, he added.
Dialogue table with the authorities
To face this situation, Ras Iyah V He wrote directly to the President of the Supreme Court, Bryan Sykes, requesting a formal dialogue table between the Judiciary and the Rastafari community.
further, proposed that all police police stations publicly exhibit copies of the amendment of 2015, as is done with posters of people sought, so that officers know and respect the rights of those who practice faith.
“It is not possible that you take the law to a police station and tell you that it is the first time they see it. That happened in Montego Bay. We are tired of having to teach them their own laws. Rasta cannot remain criminalized for praying with grass. This is cultural resistance, It is living spirituality”, The representative Rastafari emphasized.
Ras iyah stressed that “We want the law to be clearly understood by all. We do not want anything to be the discretion of the judges and the police ... the law is clear, So it must be applied to protect the dreadlocks from injustice”.
