Rastafarians are demanding a swift change of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which would eliminate “dark areas” and give judges and law enforcement more choice over what to do with members caught in possession of ganja.
Rastafarians from all over the world flocked to Montego Bay to hold a press conference to express their displeasure at being arrested and brought before the courts for ganja possession.
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According to Ras Iyah V, the Rastafarian’s spokesperson, two members were recently detained and brought before the court for possessing ganja. He added that one was fined and the other was let free.
He emphasized that Rastafarians were allowed to consume ganja as a sacrament under the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act of 2015.
Iyah V noted, “I and I call on the Government now that the laws must be enacted in such a way that there are no grey areas because it is not to be left up to the discretion of the police to arrest or not to arrest. It is not to be left up to the judges to fine or not to fine.”
He continued, “We are asking that when these laws are amended that they be placed in the police stations just like how the pictures of wanted people are posted in the police station. That means you cannot use ignorance as an excuse to say you didnt know. We want it to be stated in a way that there is no mistake by the police.”
He contended that Rastafarians have endured too much harassment because of ganja, “I and I have gone through a lot from the days of when you were caught with a seed or a leaf, it was mandatory that you go to prison for a month. If [after] having one conviction you were caught with a next seed or leaf, or have one plant, it was mandatory that you go to prison for five years. I and I have gone through all of these things until 1972 when the laws were amended under the Michael Manley Administration but to see Rastafari continuing to experience these harassment.”
